Re: [a/s] Apology

[law-deb@xxxxxxxx]

To Whom It May Concern:

The statement that is "quoted" below is incorrect.  I am sorry to say it,
but someone needs to do a little research.

As someone that has driven "the big rigs",(Class A Lic, with double,
triple, tanker, HAZMAT, passenger endorsements)  I think that I can
correct this statement with some degree of accuracy.

A semi tractor, the pulling part fully loaded with approx. 180 gals of
fuel, weighs in at a respectable amount of 16,000LBS, give or take a few
hundred.  An empty WABASH 53' trailer, about 10,000 LBS.  This trailer
can hold around 46,000 LBS of cargo, give or take a few.

The only thing that IS correct  in the statement below is that the
numbers are the MAX that is allowable for the regulations set forth by
the Dept. of Transportation (DOT).  If you combine the amounts, you come
up with 80,000LBS, or the max limits.

This is why truckers WEIGH their rigs when loaded, to make sure that they
are within the limits for each set of axles, and are not overloaded.  If
they have TOO much on the front axel, they can move the "fifth wheel"
forward or backwards, moving weight from the front axle.  If there is TOO
much on the rear axle or the trailer axles, they can move the trailer
set, moving the weight.

There is no way that you can carry an 80,000LBS load in a 10,000LBS
trailer with a 16,000LBS tractor and be anywhere close to being legal and
would be stopped at the first scale crossed.

This is just to prove that most of the cargo being pulled by truckers is
being done with a tractor that is only around 1/3 the weight of the
trailer and cargo. 


On Thu, 23 Mar 2000 01:38:49 -0700 "Dave Wells" <dwells@zekes.com>
writes:
> Actually, yes the tractor does weight more than trailer because of 
> the fifth
> wheel arrangement. On an 80,000 LB load, the front axle weighs 
> 12,000lbs,
> drive axles 34,000 lbs. for a total tractor weight of 46,000 lbs. 
> Trailer
> will weigh in at 34,000 lbs.
> Dave Wells
> dwells@zekes.com