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Jan 23, 2024 · The truck axle distribution is essential for safe trucking. Unless otherwise stated by the manufacturer, the 60/40 rule applies when it comes to trailer weight distribution. 60% of the weight should be at the front of the trailer and 40% at the back.
- Begin with Your Truck Weight
- A Million Possibilities
- Other Considerations
- Average That Weight
- It’S Your Responsibility
Slide your fifth wheel and trailer axles into a “normal” configuration, with the kingpin slightly ahead of center of the drive axle, and the trailer axles centered at the 41-foot mark to ensure compliance with the kingpin-to-trailer-axle measurement rules. Ideally the fuel tanks should be full because this will be your worst-case scenario. We’ll us...
You can load anywhere from 26 to 30 standard 40×48-inch pallets on a 53-foot trailer — 26 if you load them straight in (48-inch measurements from front to back), or 30 of you turn half the pallets sideways. A full load like that offers no latitude when it comes to where the pallets are placed, so hopefully the load is light enough that it won’t imp...
But it’s rarely that simple. Let’s say you had 18 2,500-lb. pallets, leading to a 45,000-lb. payload. Side by side and from nose to tail, you’d have all that weight in the first 36 feet of the trailer. Chances are, you’d be heavy on the drive axles and light on the trailer axles. But if you staggered the pallets so there were two side by side, foll...
With loads of pallets of various weights, you’ll have to use a calculator to figure out which pallets can go side-by-side to give you the 800 lb. per foot that you want. This may require extending your loading pattern out into eight- or 12-foot segments rather than four-foot (48-inch) segments, and averaging the 800 lb. per foot over eight or 12 fe...
In summary, many shippers have established ways of loading trailers with straight and predictable loads. There’s a bigger challenge with mixed loads or when you’re loading the trailer for multiple drops and the cargo has to be loaded in a specific order. As the person in charge of the truck, how it’s loaded is ultimately your responsibility. Shippe...
Mar 29, 2024 · Following the 60/40 weight distribution rule is key to maintaining balance and stability while towing. If the weight distribution is off, with too little weight on the hitch (tongue) and too much towards the rear of the trailer, the risk of trailer sway dramatically increases. This imbalance puts undue stress on the hitch and can lead to a loss ...
- Park your trailer on a level surface. Begin by making sure your trailer is parked on a level surface. If it is not level, it may shift or even tip once the loading begins.
- Chock the wheels. To further stabilize your trailer while loading it, wheel chocks are recommended. Simply chocking the wheels will help ensure your trailer won’t move or roll while loading cargo.
- Make sure the weight is distributed 60/40. Before loading anything into the trailer, take a quick inventory of your cargo and roughly plan out where you’ll be placing it in the trailer.
- Load heaviest items first. Following the 60/40 rule when loading a trailer is vitally important for safe towing. The best way to load for proper weight distribution is to start with the largest and heaviest items.
The 60/40 axle placement formula is a great starting point and does take into account the tongue of the trailer from where the trailer sits on the hitch ball. Please keep in mind that this is a very basic formula or estimate for axle placement. For a much more accurate way to determine the correct axle placement for your trailer, take a look at ...
The full weight the truck is allowed to carry is based on total number of axles and distance from center of the forward-most axle to the rearward-most axle. To illustrate, consider a three-axle truck consisting of a steering axle and tandem rear axle, with a 214-inch wheelbase, 58,000-pound GVWR, front axle rated at 18,000 pounds GAWR and rear tandem axle rated at 40,000 pounds GAWR.
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Mar 5, 2021 · Slide the 5th wheel to the desired position. Get out and look to ensure it’s in the right place, then re-engage the locks. Shuttle the truck back and forth gently until you hear the locks clank into place. Get out and look again to ensure the locks have returned to the locked position.
