HOW MUCH WEIGHT CAN A TRUCK CARRY?? Explaining B-TRAIN Weight Laws In Canada And United States

[@tomcat05warpup71]

I'm only 16 and this video will help me when I become a trucker! Loved it, thanks👌👍

[@sdamico1552]

Ayee I’m 17

[@erickline6293]

Excellent video! Really appreciate someone going through it so thoroughly. One thing you didn't touch on was the CA weight limits when running 6 or 7 axle B-trains. You mentioned that it jumps from 109 > 137 > 140 in MI when switching from 5 to 6 to 7 but kept comparing to the 139,960 weight in Canada from the 5 axle setup. Keep it up!

[@callthemall]

Yep, because any extra axles other than the 5 in Canada have to be lift axles. 139960lbs is the max allowed weight in Canada, and is achieved with a 5 axle trailer.

[@blauer2551]

And a lot of people think trucking is easy. The tire repair guys love B-trains.

[@flow2me667]

Because of all these axles?

[@mattluther4842]

Definitely helps me easier to understand with the pics lol. Being a new driver of only 3days n with a company who throws u under the bus definitely helps.

[@terrydavis6132]

Why don't you people just Google ( dept. Of transportation , weights and measures ) everything you need to know in every state .

[@bmdbigfeet1031]

@@terrydavis6132 you probably have to be Philadelphia lawyer to decipher the regulations.

[@krazyK6996]

What company you work for?

[@bmdbigfeet1031]

5500kg on steering, 17000 on drives or tandem, 24000 on tri axles. Standard, no permits in most Canadian provinces.

[@YUHNBRO]

I have a heavy steer on mine, gets you up to 47,000kgs gvrw Pulling trains with my truck, the heavy steer doesn't mean diddly. I can't register it for anything more than 63,500kgs.

[@nighttrain3926]

recently loaded alcohol in nebraska going back to toronto for hand sanitizer, tandem tanker, got all loaded up scaled out at 79,800, i was half full of fuel, left there and seen a no name truck stop with dirt cheap fuel so i couldn't resist and filled up, i knew i was over, in my head i knew once i got to half tanks again id be good, got to scale in illinois on 80 where it almost meets 294, open, driver weigh, if u know that ccale tgey axle weigh ya, i stopped put window down, was instructed to move forward etc snd stop again, im lookin at my fuel gage the whoke time and im back to about half tanks, finally gye says on speaker ur good driver but u better watch ur fuel, i felt like i won the lottery leavin lol

[@johnandrews389]

Cool love the story. I have experienced this as well. It really is like winning the lottery!

[@B81Mack]

You mentioned the "10-1" spread. Yes, it's 10'1". Axles more than 10' apart are treated as individual axles for the purpose of establishing weight, not part of a grouping. They're allowed 20,000 lbs each federally or whatever the local law allows. In reality it's still a tandem because the axles are equalized against each other, whether it be an air suspension with common delivery from one height valve arrangement or mechanical equalization through a center pivot beam as on a spring suspension.

[@stephenroberts4895]

US Weights on an Interstate basis: 12,000 lbs. steer, 34,000 lbs tandem drives and 34,000 tandem trailer. Intrastate varies state by state.

[@Tyler-xe1es]

Honestly this topic can be dicussed for hours. Takes alot to understand it unless you do it everyday. How your trucks speced and type of truck... Van haulers have it easy but when you get into multi axle configurations depends on trailer set ups old school steel vs aluminmum trailers 5 axle 6 axle 7 or even 8 axle. Spacing and axle configurations and ofcourse what the trailer is rated for in one area ! & what you are hauling too. None the less you did a good job !

[@OriginalAzaeal]

In Canada steer tires= 5500kg(12100lbs) Tandem= 17000kg(37400lbs) Trailer tandem= 17000kg(37400lbs) = 86900lbs / In US steer tires= 12000lbs Tandem= 34000lbs Trailer tandem 34000lbs =80000lbs according to my CDL school but he didn't explain the canadian part very well.

[@Clerrance]

Not a lot of info for this type of setup. Thanks a lot for making it simple and easy. Great video! Thanks man

[@bigbear5510]

Great informative video!!! Yea, it's a little confusing to me but this is the first time I have heard these axle weight laws explained & you did a real good job with it. Nice drawings too. What a few may not understand is that these are legal weights without any special permits. Michigan does has some strange laws & not just trucking laws. Keep up the great work. Stay safe & healthy out there. Spoke to ya later, I'll be 10-10 on the side, Ka moan.😎

[@deepaksaini7757]

In Canada, the Super B's can gross 63500 kg, i.e 140,000 lbs. Thats for the typical western Canada unit with 1+2+3+2 axle setup.

[@deepaksaini7757]

In Canada, tandems can go upto 37450lbs i.e 17000 kg and tri axle can go 52900 lbs i.e 24000 kg. In western Canada, BC, AB, SK, MB, spread axles are illegal.

[@carlthor91]

If you have a spread axle, the back has to slide forward and nominal dist 40 feet from pin to back axle center line. That makes it legal in Manitoba. Triple axle on 54 foot trailer is okay though.🤔🤔🤔

[@Catluke96]

Those axle weight laws in the US/Canada are really crazy. I'm glad we dont have those scales all over place here in Europe like over there. If they pull you over to have a look at your weight at all, they just have a look at your gross weight and thats it. If there would be such a strict control of the axle weights here, many would get in trouble, cuz we dont have sliding fifth wheels and the biggest part of the trailers doesnt have any sliding axles\tandems too. Only lift axles are common here. So you would have to get every load pefectly in place when loading it.

[@Tyler-xe1es]

You still have to load your loads correctly in place over here. Example: Loading a 75 K lb coil depending on your trailer axle configuration and type because some are rated for less weight in a certain spot then others.

[@MrJimsparky]

Interesting Video Here in Australia, We call your B-Train a B-Double Weights here are roughly 6t - steer axle, 16.5t Bogie axle & 20t tri axle Semi trailer setup- 6x4 Prime mover & tri Trailer = 42.5t (93696 lbs) B-Double setup - 6x4 Prime move, Tri A Trailer & Tri B Trailer =62.5t (137788Lbs)

[@mr7badass]

You are wrong. Over there in Australia a Canadian or american b train would be called "small". Compared to your road trains lol.

[@willieolson3444]

In Michigan I used to pull a B-Train it had 11 axles and my weight was at 156,000. I was hauling 96 boxes of 18 bushels of apples at 156,000 and I was aloud 180,000.

[@callthemall]

Yeah Michigan is allowed more weight and up to the 11 axles. I didn’t go too deep into that because this setup is the best of both worlds for doing the cross border stuff 👍

[@rashadrandle]

Thats pretty cool. Here in texas we can get 60k lbs for a tridem and 20k lbs for a single axle group and depending upon tire and rim size you can go as far as 22k lbs on a steer

[@Myneighborhoodsolution]

Good explanation. Thank you for doing the legwork to straighten this out for us.

[@androth1502]

currently in training and in canada, this seems a quiet a bit more complex, with SPIF and non-SPIF schedules and various charts to calculate axles, axle groups, etc and need the distances between the axels and base length.

[@gearjammingevents6222]

Brilliant video I have a kenworth over in the uk that was imported from Canada and never understood why it has a gross weight label of 63,500kgs in the door whilst the hole time I though us and Canada ran the same weights of 80,000lbs which is like 36,500kgs. Nice one 👍

[@RodeoJoe1981]

Problem with 2 extra axles is they add to your tare weight. Weights confusing? Every province has different rules. U never said anything about larger spreads 72" on drives and tandems getting 19100KG. Front axles are allowed to go up to axle rating or axle allowable in each province. I run a 20000lbs front axle and are allowed 9000kg on triaxle dumps and pumps or 7700kg on tractors. Ontario. I give you serious credit for even attempting this topic!

[@crazyjack3357]

As i'am from Michigan and a son of of a trucker I understand michigan axle law and canada laws and another thing to note as what I know is in the US for spread axles they messure center to center and in canada they messure from the end of the one tire to the other so a US 9 foot spread will turn into a 8 and 6 or something spread

[@GoDaddioTV]

Wrong, in Canada measurements for axle spread and overhang length are taken from the hub also.

[@farmingthemitten5272]

In Michigan we can go 164,000# gross. Most States allow a 80,000# gross.

[@nighttrain3926]

thats why ur roads are torn to fucx

[@crazyjack3357]

Well where are you looking at. Is it where there is alot more tandom truck travel where the city or county as little to no money or out in the rural areas where there is constant 11 axle farm trucks, tanker trucks, gravel trains, van trucks, log/lumber trucks?

[@farmingthemitten5272]

Yep some roads are rough here in Michigan but I haven’t noticed any better road conditions in Illinois, Indiana or Ohio either and they’re not allowing 164k trucks. So I’d say that’s a terrible argument. I can run 2300 bushel of corn legally in Michigan where in most Midwest states they maybe can squeeze a little over 1000. If we were limited to 80k Michigan would literally die. One way in and one way out for everything; agricultural products, fuels, forest products, chemicals, aggregates and so on. I live in Kent County and we have beautiful roads.

[@crazyjack3357]

@@farmingthemitten5272 yeah a bunch of other spots in other states are just as terrible and another thing to note is the base that they made the roads a lot of spots in Michigan its just blue clay and yeah there are some really bad spots around Detroit and over on I-69 by flint and Lansing but is a high traffic area. plus some states are allowing more and even some spots in Ohio and Indiana but we're only allowed on a certain route even the US government wanted to increase the federal weight gross weight while basically lowering axle weight to Michigan standard idk if it passed or not

[@MegaKornis]

Its always interesting watch all world differenc in trucking In Europe we have abvious less weight but we cannot compared because your trucks basicly Have 3 axles while European trucks ussualy have Two axles also we have 3 axles and 4 axles but most common are 2 axles trucks also we dont have trailers with spread axles anyway nice thing that we have lifting axles

[@thomasborst6832]

In BC, AB and Sask you can only do 17000 kg on tandems

[@deepaksaini7757]

The steering axle is usually 5500 kgs, i.e 12,125 lbs.

[@dylte1lrshrt528]

very good information doing flatbed myself but never pull b train yet it helps if the time comes it makes alot more sense now especially if your running Michigan

[@312Frankiej]

US steer axle cam carry tha max weight that is on the sidewall of the tires usually 12,500-13,000

[@fabianpachoek7731]

Canada gvwr 2 axle trailer

[@behroozkhaleghirad]

Very clear and beneficial explanation. And btw, why US, why? 😀

[@kriszinke5697]

This totally makes perfect sense. Being from from Michigan tho I understand the weight laws a bit. I dont pull trains just one trailer with 6 axles.

[@lethukuthuladerrick5522]

Good teaching, but some of us learn well with clear allustration and drawing your drawing is small. Any way I'm asking how much weight can a truck pull. I'm thinking of the Australian roadtrains,

[@joeinmi8671]

You forgot to mention the canadian drive axle spread distance weights/rules. Mi has all kinds of goofy axle weight laws and special exemptions and use. You should get into companies bonding roads to haul any weight they want per axle...Happens all the time here. Back in the day Some counties in MI had their own weight laws. For example at one point wayne county allowed 22K per axle, up to 11 axles...

[@crazyjack3357]

I think in the city limits of Detroit they still do that where the city limits has no weight limit it was for the auto plants and the steel plants idk if it was ever grandfathered in or not

[@joeinmi8671]

@@crazyjack3357 As far as I know wayne county and city of detoilet follow MI weight limits now. However if your working for the right company anything goes in this state...

[@B_Dot2210]

in the UK we are 44tonnes gross weight, with tri axle trailer

[@BigTimeRoamer]

So, are the B-trains not allowed in the other states of the US at all or are they allowed under special permits on designated roads for specific types of cargo? I’m not from there but I don’t see why they wouldn’t allow them. Can you explain this a little more detailed?

[@juniorditrucker]

We do it in pounds too up here lol. I am Toronto based and I use LBS.

[@flyifri]

Makes perfect sense to me.! Thank you for sharing.!

[@davigorb]

Any idea if there is a difference in max weight between a tandem tractor/ Quad trailer OR A tri-axle tractor/ triaxle trailer? I see lots of dump trailers using those 2 versions

[@Amaranthian450]

Manitoba is slightly different. 5500kg front axle, 17000kg tandem axle, and 23000 kg tri axle

[@paradigm_rhyme]

That is on a 62500 kg RTAC highway. On a 63500 RTAC highway such as the 16, TransCanada, perimeter around Winnipeg and the 75 you're allowed 24000 kg on the triaxle.

[@wantu2much]

I'd say your spot on.

[@davidkuehl8713]

Very interesting in my view. Thanks

[@ismailgorkemkoca4874]

Thanks for the good expression

[@darrylm3627]

Good Stuff, Great Tips👍🏿😀

[@flow2me667]

I understand it. Very good explained.

[@MetrologyEngineer]

In Oregon State you are allowed to run triple truck-trailer combination. I wonder how much you can weigh.

[@bobinthewest8559]

I think the limit is still 105,500 I could be wrong (but I think I’m remembering correctly from when I looked into it about a year ago). Check the laws carefully though…. I think they will only allow A-Train triples there…. Not B-Train.

[@FrankAnzalone]

Why is your shifter so long

[@indersidhu5091]

I thought we can only haul 17000 kg on tandem axle

[@Ridg.e]

Would it be worth doing a 9 foot spread tandem on the A trailer instead of the triple. Looks like you’d lose 3,000 pounds of weight but then you’d have 4 less tires and one less axle to maintain.

[@callthemall]

Yeah some trucks in Michigan are like that, though that combination is not legal in Canada

[@arthurwilliams1922]

Hey man thanks for this! I appreciate it!

[@johnvelas70]

Just curious what if you have a truck built with 14k steer axles and 40k tandem drives? Would that be legal in america?

[@bobinthewest8559]

Depending on the tire size, you can (in some jurisdictions) go up to 18,000 on the steers (at least that’s the heaviest that I’ve seen). On the drives however, even with heavier duty axles installed, I’m pretty sure you’re still limited to 34,000.

[@sorryeh7]

That was very interesting! I think we have slightly different weights here in Western Canada, so it was interesting to hear about that side of the continent... I was just curious if anyone knew if it is a similar story for B trains in the PNW

[@bobinthewest8559]

In Washington state (I believe in Oregon as well), the only way above 105,500 is with special permits. Washington state DOT has a great online “axle spacing and weight calculator” that’s real simple to use. Enter any configuration, and it will tell you what you’re allowed to gross, and what you’re allowed on each axle, and each group. It’s a pretty thorough breakdown. I’ve been using it a lot, trying out different variations to see how to get the most from a piece of equipment which I plan to have built once I have it all sorted out. You might be surprised at the difference it can make just moving an axle half a foot in some cases. For example, I ran a bunch of B-Train configurations through it, and on the tridem (excuse me, tri-axle) if you space them on 61 inch centers (5’ 1”) it will be allowed 43,500 pounds for the group, which gives you a little more of that “wiggle room” he was talking about.

[@ralphkrahn7440]

🇨🇦 ontario 👍👍👍 real important what you are saying 😇

[@troyandrus982]

Great information

[@andrewhatton1606]

I appreciate it I hope to see more

[@5FaLlEn5]

I tell you being limited to 80 thousand pounds here in the states sucks balls especially someone like me that gets paid by the Ton...

[@casualtrucker]

Good vid!

[@MarkZ67_music]

Each country is different i no understand why

[@hdavis939]

But you still need permits for anything over 80K, right?

[@callthemall]

Nope! Canada wide is up to 140’000lbs with the right axles, and Michigan can actually go up to I think 158’000lbs with the right axles, no permits.

[@ray-vf6ux]

In the rest of the USA yes you need permits for anything over 80,000. But you can register your truck for a 90,000 gvw.

[@oregonfordguy9812]

oregon Washington and Idaho Utah and others allow for 105.5 with right axle setup. another thing is most those same states will allow. 86k on a 3axle tractor spread axle trailer if your already licensed for 105.

[@frdboy86]

With A-train set up in Michigan, Im legal to 164,000 lbs but if I haul into Ohio, Im only permitted to 154,000 lbs.

[@johnandrews389]

Great video

[@bobinthewest8559]

The conversion between kilograms and pounds is 2.2 24000 kilograms (times) 2.2 = 52,800 Not really sure what you were using for the conversion there 🤷‍♂️

[@truckman63]

Its not better for the roads. Also every state except Iowa for some odd reason will give you 500lbs on your drives if you have an APU. Ive never pulled a B train yet, but i have pulled gravel trains and have ran tri, quad and 8 axle set ups i agree on Michigans weird axle laws hell i have a 4 page booklet of axle set ups and their weights in Mi.

[@ralphkrahn7440]

You are right

[@Nicko30able]

You did that real well and clear. Do you still have 60" spread on the drives in Canada as opposed to the 54" in the states? Does the drive spread change anything? If I recall clearly, if you have tri-drives, for the really oversize stuff, you used to have to have 60" drive spread to get right for Canada. Was still 54" in the USA on tri-drives I think.

[@callthemall]

Yeah there’s all sorts of special rules with spacings and tire types that I don’t quite dip into in the line of work I do, so I didn’t want to dive that far in, because there’s a very good chance I’d be wrong! Haha

[@carlthor91]

To my understanding 60" spread in Ontario and maybe Quebec, I know standard 54" in Manitoba. To the best I know.

[@gordondewald8267]

Well spoken. Bit of work on your math but a well delivered lesson.

[@ralphkrahn7440]

Bridge weight🇨🇦🕵👀👍👍

[@keepontruckinoutlawlife1248]

👍🤘

[@SH3RIFF187]

God damn USA, move to metric already

[@messagedeleted4307]

If the truck and trailer can carry a total of 80,000 pounds, don't I have to minus the weight of the truck and trailer to truly determine the amount of I can carry? For example, if I'm allowed to carry 80,000 pounds, but my truck and trailer weighs a combined 40,000 pounds, will I only be allowed to haul 40,000 pounds?

[@callthemall]

Correct! My truck weighs around 34000 when I have a tandem axle trailer on, which means I can take a payload of around 46000lbs