Still looking at trucks and things… I love the new Athearn Macks…
What I need to know is how the double truck drags were worked? I’ve seen the drop belly ballast trailers in the background in town scenes on film and I guess that the 28’ parcels trailers are no big issue… but what about the 40’ + trailers? Are they restricted out of town? Do the Operators jst use them for trunking (long haul)? Do they run to edge of town and then split? Does this mean that 2nd units get tied down roadside or in yards before forwarding behind a different tractor?
I’ll try to give you some useful information…regarding the double 28’ trailers; there are several states in the western part of the US where truckers are allowed to haul “triples” - three 28’ trailers in tow. However, I believe they have to drop the 3rd unit at an approved parking facility adjacent to a highway off ramp as hauling them into a city or town would be prohibited. Doubles are allowed within city limits.
As far as doubling the 40 footers, a friend of mine is a truck driver based in NY State. He tells me that currently, on the NY State Thruway, trucks are allowed to double haul 48’ trailers as the maximum length. His dad pulled double 40’ trailers as far back as the early 1970’s. I hope this helps you.
An interesting question, one for which I went and saw our logistics guy because we do run 40’ and 48’ doubles.
Here in Alberta, there’s an eleven page rule book (I now have a copy on my desk). In general, they are only allowed on certain routes (the least restrictions are on 4+ lane highways). They cannot run during peak hours surrounding long weekends and other holidays. The first trailer always has to be lighter than the second trailer (which has to be heavier than the third trailer in the case of triples).
There are also certain weather restrictions. You also HAVE to file the truck’s route from the highways to origin and destination points.
We typically use them ONLY to move stock/product between our major plants.
If you have any other questions, feel free to email me - I don’t check this forum that often.
The 2- 40’ combination trailers were used primarliy on Thruways in New England.I also saw 1-45’-and 1-28’ combination used msotly in Nev. and Utah. Three trailers were permitted in Nev towns for deliveries just had to find alocation to break them up.
In Florida they were originally only allowed on the Sunshine State Parkway and maybe some of the Interstates but lately I have seen the short doubles on city streets.
Toll Roads in the Midwest and the Northeast had specific routings for full double semis.
For example you can make up a pair of full trailers on the NY Thruway but have to break em to single trailers before taking them off onto the rest of the area. They had specific bullpens for this work.
Baltimore restricts doubles (28’ I think) in some areas.
I can tell you that allowing full semi doubles (2x 48’ or whatever) is not a good idea in the Northeast in many areas.
Out west you can run em Rocky Doubles, Doubles or Triples.
In Australia they have “Road Trains” of many trailers for very long haul, dedicated work across some of the worst nature has to offer. I was told that these trains were so long a steering wheel input took up to 20 seconds to work it’s way all the way down the line depending on speed.
Bullpen is a word I use or have seen used to indicate a place where drivers gather with thier trucks. Out west in Meat country some pens or waiting areas have the necessary facilities for drivers. Most of the time it is nothing more than a paved area where waiting or work is done.
Sometimes you have third parties such as Roach Coachers come out with food and drink for commerce to areas where there are many hungry/thirsty drivers waiting.
If you are at a warehouse or facility for regular freight a bullpen might be a common area for “Outside” drivers to wait at listening for thier calls either by messenger or radio/cell/satellite.
There are usually signed specificially for truckers and companies to regulate where they can go with the doubles, but documents like Motor Carrier Atlas, permits and local offices regulating such commerce usually makes information availible.
There is Law Enforcement at all levels working to ensure that they dont stray off the system. Drivers have to pass certain tests before being allowed to run doubles/triples. I deliberately stayed away because I am not mentally able to deal with that second trailer swinging around… probably it’s best I did.
Doubles generally have very short wheel base cabs that are very violent to ride in on some of our poorer concrete. Not to mention the single axle drive losing traction first and spinning out before the bigger tandems do. They do get a good pay rate and possibly regular runs if they are working for the right company.
Dollys are gathered together by whoever own em. The brown UPS dollies might be near the Fed Ex Dollies.
A Rocky Double is a specific kind of rig found in the Rocky Mountains of the USA, generally defined as a regular trailer with a shorter one towed behind.
A Michigan B Train is a whole different rig… They are one of the special types of trucks in the USA. I believe they are engaged in hauling steel coil in one state of our Country and not allowed anywhere else. (Un
I have never seen mixed consists doubles/triples, and don’t expect you would. We certainly only run ours alone . . . as do the outside carriers when they run doubles out east for us. We have a place in our yard for our dollies.
I will also mention that there are special courses you have to take . . . . and a certain minimum hours in a truck before you can drive a double.