Dropdeck-48' vs longer

[robertt]

As far as getting more loads, is it an advantage to have a 51', or 53' foot trailer or does a 48' do the job? What is the most common upper deck length? What is the best kingpin setting or does it just depend on the wheelbase of your tractor? With a drop deck is it a hinderance or an advantage to have load levelers or are they a pain to keep out of the way? Just gathering info and appreciate any and all opinions. Thanks.

[allan5oh]

Load Levelers aren't a problem. I'm using them right now for a 40 foot long load. I have an 06 all aluminum east 48 foot 11 foot upper 37 lower and I generally don't have problems.

If I were to spec another trailer, I'd try to get an 8 foot upper and 40-45 foot lower. To help with weight distrubution with large pieces. I had one load I had to turn down because of that.

But that's partially because I run a 72" spread(Canadian legal) which is only rated for 34,000 lbs. Some guys run front sliders, but most don't bother.

If I were to buy a trailer new, I'd probably spec a 53 foot Chaparral with 8 foot upper, 45 foot lower, 34" deck 28" drop and 17.5 tires. Probably a tridem as well. Talked to the local dealer, he said they come in around 11,700 lbs.

But it all depends on your customers, or potential customers. Many loads at my company will only load on flats.

Personally I wouldn't consider a flat. Step is the way to go.

48 foot vs. 53. Most everyone at my company said just go with a 48 because you're California legal no matter what. With a 53 you may need a lift axle or sliding system. That will either add weight or interfere with load securement.

[allan5oh]

Kingpin setting depends on many factors, including clearance and where you put your 5th wheel. I have an 18" kingpin and I like it. It really depends on the truck, total length, clearance, etc.. but unless you have a very custom truck say with a large sleeper and shorter wheelbase, any kingpin setting should be fine.

[robertt]

I appreciate it allan5oh. I'm just in the learning phase right now, trying to decide what I want to do. Ideally, (in my dreams), I would like to have a Ritennouer spread. I saw a nice 51' used with a sliding axle. I would think a fixed 48' would be handier, not having to worry about bridge distance, axle placement and weight. Just wondering if it was worth it to have the extra 3 or 5' as far as getting loads. Thanks again.

[Heavy Duty]

You need 40' on the bottom to haul 40' containers. You may not haul them but it will help resale.

[GMAN]

I bought a 53' step deck a few years ago. There have been a few loads that I have gotten due in part to the 42' lower deck. I have 11' on top. I also have container locks and a sliding rear axle so that I can be legal in California. Closing the tandem also saves wear and tear on the tires. A 48' will do most anything that you want. Having a bridge that also converts to ramps will so help you find more loads. I keep extra padding, tarps and securement on my step deck. You never know what you will get into on the road. Sometimes a flat works better and other time a step is best. It all depends on what you want to haul and where you run. There are areas where a step works better and others where a flat is preferred.

[dropdecks]

53 combo for me. Add some levelers and you can carry 60' long without a permit in a lot of states.

[GMAN]

You can't extend beyond the rear of a 53' trailer in most states without a permit. If you want to be able to extend beyond the 53' you may want to consider a 51'. If you extend forward and rearward then you could conceivably haul a 60' long load without a permit.

[dropdecks]

You can't extend beyond the rear of a 53' trailer in most states without a permit.

Hmm. I've done it a few times with 35" of rear overhang on a 53' step. Can you post a link to show me if I violated any laws in DE, PA, NY or ON?

[robertt]

Appreciate all of the reply's. Hey G-MAN, how long have you been in the "biz"?

[GMAN]

Hmm. I've done it a few times with 35" of rear overhang on a 53' step. Can you post a link to show me if I violated any laws in DE, PA, NY or ON?

I got this off of the federal website. I am not sure about the Canadian site. If you have a current Rand McNally, I believe the length laws are listed in the front.


htts://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/publications/size_regs_final_rpt/index.htm#cmv

Federal Size Regulations for Commercial Motor Vehicles

U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration


QUALITY ASSURANCE STATEMENT

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

• FEDERAL SIZE REGULATIONS FOR COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES (CMVs)
• WIDTH REQUIREMENTS
• LENGTH REQUIREMENTS
  • Truck Tractor-Semitrailer Combinations
  • Truck Tractor-Semitrailer-Trailer Combinations
  • Buses
  • Grandfathered Semitrailer Lengths
  • Specialized Equipment
    • Automobile and Boat Transporter Combinations
    • B-Train Combinations
    • Beverage Semitrailers
    • Maxi-Cube Vehicles
    • Saddlemount and Saddlemount with Fullmount Combinations
    • Dromedaries
    • Trucks or Straight Trucks
    • Recreational Vehicles
• LENGTH AND WIDTH EXCLUSIVE DEVICES
• NATIONAL NETWORK
• REASONABLE ACCESS
• ISTEA "FREEZE"

Citations

The regulations in this brochure are found in Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 23 CFR Part 658. They reflect statutory provisions found in the U.S. Code (USC), 49 USC 31111, 31112, 31113, and 31114.
Notes

This pamphlet explains Federal length and width requirements for certain commercial motor vehicles and where these vehicles may operate. It paraphrases the regulations. In case of a dispute, the actual regulations govern.
All dimensional units are given in metric and English values in accordance with the Federal Highway Administration metric conversion policy published in the Federa1 Register (FR) on June 11, 1992 (57 FR 24843) and the Notice of Interpretation regarding vehicle size and weight requirements published in the Federal Register on October 7, 1994 (59 FR 51060).
FEDERAL SIZE REGULATIONS FOR COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES (CMVs)

The Federal Government first enacted size regulations for CMVs with the passage of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. This Act provided a maximum vehicle width of 96 inches (2.44 meters) on the Interstate highway system. Subsequently, the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1976 increased the allowable width for buses to 102 inches (2.6 meters). The Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) of 1982 extended the same width requirement of 102 inches to commercial trucks. At the same time, the STAA expanded the highway network on which the Federal width provision applied from the Interstate to the National Network (NN) of highways. (See discussion of the NN on page 12.)
The STAA also regulated the length of CMVs. In 1982, Congress established minimum length standards for most commercial truck tractor-semitrailers and for twin trailers pulled behind a truck tractor. (See discussion beginning on page 2.) Congressional involvement in vehicle length reflected the desire to standardize the enforcement of length along the NN and to thereby eliminate any administrative and operating confusion caused by varying State provisions governing commercial vehicle length along that element of U.S. highways.
There is no Federal vehicle height requirement for CMVs. Thus, States may set their own height restrictions. Most height limits range from 13 feet, 6 inches (4.11 meters) to 14 feet (4.27 meters), with exceptions granted for lower clearance on particular roads.
WIDTH REQUIREMENTS

The maximum width limit for CMVs on the NN and reasonable access routes was originally established at 102 inches, except for Hawaii where it is 2.74 m (108 inches). (See discussion of Reasonable Access on page 12.) To standardize vehicle width on an international basis, the 102-inch width limit was interpreted to mean the same as its approximate metric equivalent, 2.6 meters (102.36 inches) (Figure 1).
Federal width limits do not apply to special mobile equipment, which consists of self-propelled vehicles not designed or used primar-ily for the transportation of persons or property and only incidentally moved over the highways. Special mobile equipment includes the following, when moving under their own power: military or farm equipment; instruments of husbandry; road construction or maintenance machinery; and emergency apparatus, including police and fire emergency equipment. Federal rules do not require States to issue overwidth permits before allowing operation of special mobile equipment. However, if States wish to allow other vehicles more than 102 inches wide (i.e. non-special mobile equipment) to operate on the NN, then States must issue special overwidth permits.

Figure 1. Commercial Motor Vehicle Width Limits

LENGTH REQUIREMENTS

The Federal length limits are principally minimums that States must allow for the following vehicles on the NN and reasonable access routes.
Truck Tractor-Semitrailer Combinations

The minimum allowable length limit for the semitrailer in this combination is 14.63 m (48 feet) or the grandfathered limit for a particular State. (See discussion of Grandfathered Semitrailer Lengths on page 3.) A State may not impose an overall vehicle length limit on a truck tractor-semitrailer combination operating on the NN or reasonable access routes, even if the trailer is longer than the minimum length required by Federal law (Figure 2). A State may not impose an overall length limit on a truck tractor pulling a single semitrailer or a limit on the distance between the axles of such a truck tractor.

Figure 2. Truck Tractor-Semitrailer Combination

A truck tractor is defined as a non-cargo-carrying power unit used in combination with a semitrailer. A truck that carries cargo on the same chassis as the power unit and cab, commonly known as a straight truck, is not subject to Federal regulations, but is subject only to State provisions. Likewise a straight truck towing a trailer or semitrailer is subject only to State vehicle length regulation, except that the total length of its two cargo-carrying units may not exceed a federally established limit of 65 feet. (See discussion of ISTEA "Freeze," on page 13.) The only instances where Federal regulations apply to a combination vehicle composed of a truck carrying cargo involve dromedaries, maxi-cube vehicles, and automobile and boat transporters, discussed later in this document.
Truck Tractor-Semitrailer-Trailer Combinations

The minimum length that States must allow for trailers and semitrailers in these combinations on the NN is 8.53 m (28 feet) (Figure 3). States must also allow the continued use of semitrailers 8.69 m (28 feet 6 inches) long that were in use on December 1, 1982, provided the overall length of the combination does not exceed 19.81 m (65 feet). The maximum overall length of cargo-carrying units that States may allow for twin trailer combinations when one trailing unit is longer than 28.5 feet is determined by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA).

Figure 3. Truck Tractor-Semitrailer-Trailer Combination

Buses

States must allow buses 13.72 m (45 feet) in length to operate on the NN and reasonable access routes.
Grandfathered Semitrailer Lengths

Semitrailers up to the maximum length that were actually and lawfully operating in a truck tractor-semitrailer combination in a State on December 1, 1982, may continue to operate after that date. To clarify what these lengths were for each State, "grandfathered" semitrailer lengths have been established by regulation (Table 1).

Table 1. Grandfathered Semitrailer Lengths STATEFeet and InchesMetersAlabama53-616.31Alaska48-014.53Arizona57-617.53Arkansas53-616.31California48-0a14.63Colorado57-417.48Connecticut48-014.63Delaware53-016.15District of Columbia48-014.63Florida48-014.63Georgia48-014.63Hawaii48-014.63Idaho48-014.63Illinois53-016.15Indiana48-6b14.78Iowa53-016.15Kansas57-617.53Kentucky53-016.15Louisiana59-618.14Maine48-014.63Maryland48-014.63Massachusetts48-014.63Michigan48-014.63Minnesota48-014.63Mississippi53-016.15Missouri53-016.15Montana53-016.15Nebraska53-016.15Nevada53-016.15New Hampshire48-014.63New Jersey48-014.63New Mexico57-617.53New York48-014.63North Carolina48-014.63North Dakota53-016.15Ohio53-016.15Oklahoma59-618.14Oregon53-016.15Pennsylvania53-016.15Puerto Rico48-014.63Rhode Island48-614.78South Carolina48-014.63South Dakota53-016.15Tennessee50-015.24Texas59-017.98Utah48-014.63Vermont48-014.63Virginia48-014.63Washington48-014.63West Virginia48-014.63Wisconsin48-0c14.63Wyoming57-417.48

1. Semitrailers up to 53 feet may also operate without a permit by conforming to a kingpin-to-center of rearmost tandem axle distance of 40 feet and a kingpin-to-center of single rear axle distance of 38 feet. Semitrailers that are covered by 23 CFR 658.13 (g) may operate without a permit, provided the distance from the kingpin to the center of the rear axle is 46 feet or less.
2. Semitrailers up to 53 feet in length may operate without a permit by conforming to a kingpin-to-rearmost axle distance of 40 feet 6 inches. Semitrailers that are covered by 23 CFR 658.13 (g) may operate without a permit, pro-vided the distance from the kingpin to the center of the rear axle is 46 feet or less.
3. Semitrailers up to 53 feet in length may operate without a permit by conforming to a kingpin-to-rear axle distance of 41 feet, measured to the center of the rear tandem assembly. Semitrailers that are covered by 23 CFR 658.13 (g) may operate without a permit, provided the distance from the kingpin to the center of the rear axle is 46 feet or less.

[GMAN]

Appreciate all of the reply's. Hey G-MAN, how long have you been in the "biz"?

I initially got into the business around 1970 or 1971.

[rank]

I don't see anything about rear overhang in there.

[GMAN]

You are right, rank. I have been having some computer issues the last couple of days. This is the first time that I have been able to boot up my computer since this morning. I hope the problem has resolved itself. If I remember correctly, you are allowed up to a 4' over hang in most states for any trailer that is less than 53' in length. To the best of my recollection you are not allowed an over hang on a 53' trailer unless it is a specialty trailer such as a car hauler without a permit. If it were me I would not take the chance of having an over hang on a 53' trailer. My suggestion would be to contact the states in which you plan on running yourself and check the laws in those states. I think most have their information on their state dot website. If not then you could call them and speak with a real person. Perhaps you could let us know when you find out.

[rank]

Here's what I have in my little home made book of weights and measures.

PA DOT website, rule 4924 (a) Limitation on length of projecting loads:
6' rear overhang max. must flag in excess of 4'. Single red light replaces flag at night. However, "Dean" at the PA state police says that "RO is unlimited on products less than 70' long. No permit is required." Do I believe that? Not for a minute.

ON:
Over 3' needs a flag during day and lights at night.

NY DOT:
4' or greater requires a permit and must be flagged

MD DOT:
6' RO max and must be permitted.

VA DOT:
4' RO without a permit

[GMAN]

Another consideration one needs to be away of is the total length of your load and equipment. I have had the DOT actually measure my entire rig and load before. It doesn't usually happen, but these people are always subject to do something to occupy their time on a slow day. I remember seeing a DOT officer measure a W900 on the scale in Kentucky once. Each state can have different rules or regulations. There are some states which restrict the width and length of trailers. For instance, there is one area of California that restricts trailer length to 45'. New Jersey has some restrictions on some state roads of 96" wide. They were giving out a lot of tickets at one time to encourage those with 102" wide trailers to use their toll roads.

[rank]

yeah you still hafta comply with the length laws. All of our trucks have 233' wheel base or shorter.

[GMAN]

Canadian provinces are like states. Each can have different laws concerning trucks. It would be much better if all of them were the same. One would think that at least the U.S. and Canada would have the same laws concerning class 8 trucks and trailers.

[rank]

If the rules were all the same, revenue would go down now wouldn't it?

[GMAN]

Good point, Rank. We certainly would not want to do anything that would reduce revenue now would we?