What's up with all the axles?

[@AlexGray]

Good info, never quite knew the purpose of those extra axles.

[@brucejohnson8521]

I was told by Cal Trans inspector that it is not the weight per axle but the distance between the axles that mattered. That is, a similar longer truck with the same axle load and weight would be legal. They needed to spread out the weight for soffited post tension bridges, (most freeways, bridges are big hollow springs). Ergo the remote axles extend the load in Cal.

[@marvinjgerald6007]

Of course it is the weight per axle rating of each axle that matters first and foremost. That’ll be your first criterion of specifying a heavy haul vehicle. Axle spacing would be the second most important factor of specifying a heavy haul vehicle. Or else you’d simply will just have many underrated gross weight axles that’ll break before any road or bridge surface structure does.

[@flyingcatsallaround]

I love Brads name!

[@aaronsanborn4291]

Short answer...Bridge Laws and max gross vehicle weight which vary state to state. I can run 75,900 GVW with a tri-ax here in Maine and we can run 100,000 with a standard tractor unit and a tri-ax trailer.

[@AllieThePrettyGator]

More axles means more rubber means more grip on the road

[@aaronsanborn4291]

Means more shit to go wrong and added weight to the truck.

[@dannytechminds423]

Not talking about the fact that the extra wheels were smaller, and weren't usually used.