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-   -   Do you need a 10'1" tandem to move this load? (https://www.classadrivers.com/forum/owner-operators-forums/40908-do-you-need-101-tandem-move-load.html)

Heavy Duty 02-28-2011 11:48 AM

Tracer, Check out these links,

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oneliner 02-28-2011 02:02 PM


Originally Posted by tracer (Post 494623)
The run is 2,000 miles long!

Hey.... what happened to staying in the midwest where there's lots of freight to get you back to Ontario?

tracer 03-01-2011 12:08 PM


Originally Posted by oneliner (Post 494630)
Hey.... what happened to staying in the midwest where there's lots of freight to get you back to Ontario?

Well, what am I supposed to do when there's no loads going TOWARDS Mid-West? Drive 800 miles from Montreal QC empty so that I can pick up $3/mi freight going 500 miles back to Ontario?

Heavy Duty 03-01-2011 02:19 PM

Looks like there is a lot of good loads going to Canada right now, hope you can catch one.

tracer 03-02-2011 03:13 AM


Originally Posted by Heavy Duty (Post 494679)
Looks like there is a lot of good loads going to Canada right now, hope you can catch one.

The rates are good but all the loads are going to the Alberta tundra. No sun lotion on board required. Felt boots a must.

tracer 03-05-2011 03:34 AM


Originally Posted by tracer (Post 494583)
Here's another load where a 10'1" spread might work better... I'm waiting to hear from the Agent and I'm picking up steel plates. All are 37' long, 9.6' wide, and 2 inches high. The weight is 45,201 lbs. I hope I can distribute it equally between the trailer and truck axles by some creative use of the dunnage. I need to put more weight on the truck axles.

Just scaled the truck with these steel plates and ... I was right about the 10'1" spread. I'm legal ... but the load on the drives is WAY less than on the trailer. Either a tridem or 10'1" tandem would work much better and help distribute the load properly.

rank 03-12-2011 03:07 PM


Originally Posted by tracer (Post 494667)
Well, what am I supposed to do when there's no loads going TOWARDS Mid-West? Drive 800 miles from Montreal QC empty so that I can pick up $3/mi freight going 500 miles back to Ontario?

You could have DH 600 miles to Baltimore. Your cpm must be under .90. Would`ve cost you approx $500 to load $2.50 - $3.00 freight and you could have been ready to load the next AM. You could just do Baltimore - Toronto - Chicago - Montreal and never be more than 600 miles from a $2.50 reload. All that chaining and unchaining can be hard on a guy tho LOL.

specialkay 03-13-2011 11:27 AM

A bigger spread would have been worse. Your 60" spread helps put more weight on the drives in that situation. The further ahead the front axle of the trailer axles is means the less weight you have on your drives. It's hard to explain but do a drawing and you'll see what I mean.

mgfg 03-13-2011 12:32 PM


Originally Posted by specialkay (Post 495355)
A bigger spread would have been worse. Your 60" spread helps put more weight on the drives in that situation. The further ahead the front axle of the trailer axles is means the less weight you have on your drives. It's hard to explain but do a drawing and you'll see what I mean.

I tried discussing that exact point but it was ignored.

tracer 03-13-2011 01:00 PM


Originally Posted by specialkay (Post 495355)
A bigger spread would have been worse. Your 60" spread helps put more weight on the drives in that situation. The further ahead the front axle of the trailer axles is means the less weight you have on your drives. It's hard to explain but do a drawing and you'll see what I mean.

One thing you're missing is that my 61" spread is only rated for 34,000 lbs! If this was a 10'1" spread, I'd be legal at - let's say - 36,500 lbs. However when I have 36,500 lbs on my axles NOW, I can get a ticket for being overweight.

specialkay 03-13-2011 01:48 PM

The 10'1" spread would be better overall but the way I read your post was that you were upset that your drives were so much lighter than the trailer tandems. Sorry for the confusion.

tracer 03-14-2011 04:00 PM


Originally Posted by specialkay (Post 495367)
The 10'1" spread would be better overall but the way I read your post was that you were upset that your drives were so much lighter than the trailer tandems. Sorry for the confusion.

That's why I think it's great to have the front axle slide from 121" to 72" position, while the rear axle is fixed as far back as the kingpin rule allows. I'd use the long spread only when it's required and stick to the 72" spread most of the time for better fuel efficiency and longer tire life.


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