Truck trailer axle loads permitted

[321GO]

Hello Guys,

Im studying max. axle load for trailers in the us compared to their european counterparts.

As far as i can see the normal max axle load for a single is 20K and for tandem is 34K.
Why then does for instance Hendrikson offer (single) axles >20K?

Why would they offer these when they are basically not allowed?
Or are these allowed with special state specific permits?
Also on interstate highways in that case?

Thanks and have a nice one

 

[NormPeterson]

Shorter trailers may have only a single axle.

Some trailers have two axles in a spread axle arrangement rather than tandem.


Norm

 

[321GO]

Thanks Norm

But even then 40K is max for a tandem according the bridge laws, right?

 

[NormPeterson]

I don't offhand know about bridge laws, but I would assume that if spread axles are allowed 40k that bridges that aren't posted with a weight limit would be able to accommodate that much. Of course, there is that thing about assumptions . . .


Norm

 

[Fabrico]

Try looking at this:

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/trucks/trucksize/weight.htm

 

[321GO]

Thanks Fabrico and others.

Yeah now i see that in spread the total axle loading for 2 or more axles can go over 40k (at least in CA i guess)

But kind of weird since i thought that generaly 20k(single) and 34k(tandem) were allowed without permits on US highways.
But CA seems to have strikter limits for semi-trailers? 18k(single) and maybe less than 34k(tandem)