SLIDING THE FIFTH WHEEL BY ONE HOLE CHANGES AXLE WEIGHT BY APPROXIMATELY 500 LBS
Truck Weighing at Cat Scales
Weighing your truck is a routine procedure after loading. Always weigh your truck if your load exceeds 35,000 lbs. Cat Scales are certified and available throughout the United States.
How it works:
The scale has 3 platforms. For a standard setup (tractor + 1 trailer), you can weigh each axle individually and the entire set at the same time.
Drive slowly over the platforms. Keep your truck straight and stop at the post with the speaker. Press the CALL button to get assistance.
At the speaker, you’ll be asked:
First weigh or re-weigh? – Answer: First weigh
Truck number please? – Provide your truck number
Come to the fuel desk and get your trailer number ready. – Park safely and go to the desk.
At the desk:
Provide the trailer number and pay the fee.
You are allowed a re-weigh of the same set within 24 hours.
Re-weigh procedure:
First weigh or re-weigh? – Answer: Re-weigh
Weigh number please – Provide the number from the first weigh ticket
Repeat the same steps as the first weigh.
Tips:
To simplify the process and pay online, install the Cat Scale app on your phone. Link...
Video instructions in English for weighing different types of setups are available here: How to weigh a truck on Cat Scales
Cat Scale App – Weigh Your Truck Easily
Download the Cat Scale app on your smartphone (iOS / Android).
Pay online and skip the fuel desk line.
Get your weigh slip digitally – no need to keep a paper copy.
Re-weigh within 24 hours – enter your first weigh slip number.
Check nearby Cat Scales locations, hours, and services.
Useful for all standard truck + trailer combinations.
Tip: Using the app speeds up your stop and helps you manage multiple weigh-ins without hassle.
In some states, the maximum allowable weight on the steer axle may be as high as 22,000 lbs.
If the remaining axles are not loaded to their maximum limits, the steer axle may be loaded more heavily — but never beyond the tire load rating.
You can check the axle weight limits for each state here:
Compilation of Existing State Truck Size and Weight Limit Laws
If you weighed your combination and found that one axle group is overloaded, but the gross weight does not exceed 80,000 lbs, follow the procedure below:
1. If the drive axle is overloaded and the trailer axles have not reached their maximum allowable weight, slide the tandems forward, if possible.
If this is not possible because the tandems are already slid all the way forward, return to the shipper and have the load weight shifted rearward.
2. If the trailer axles (tandems) are overloaded and the drive axles have not reached their maximum allowable weight, slide the tandems rearward, but not beyond the limits shown in the table below.
If the tandems are already extended to the maximum legal distance (consider the limits of all states you will be traveling through and use the shortest allowable distance — for example, if traveling to California, do not exceed 40 feet from the kingpin to the center of the rear axle) and the trailer axles are still overloaded, return to the shipper and have the load weight shifted forward.
Straighten the combination — always and without exception.
Apply the brakes on both the tractor and the trailer.
Unlock the tandem pins.
If the pins do not retract, they may require more air pressure or there may be tension on the pins, which can usually be relieved by gently moving the vehicle.
Release the tractor brake, keeping the trailer brakes applied.
Carefully move the vehicle in the required direction.
Apply the tractor brake.
If your trailer has automatic pin re-engagement, you may now release and reapply the trailer brake to allow the pins to extend.
Exit the cab and visually confirm that all pins are fully engaged in the correct holes — inspect each pin individually.
If any pin did not engage, return to step 4 and skip step 7 (the pins are already extended).
If the pins are in the wrong position, return to step 3.
If everything is correct, continue.
If the tandems were slid due to an axle overload, reweigh the combination.
MOVING THE TANDEMS ONE HOLE SHIFTS AXLE WEIGHT BY ABOUT 250–300 LBS.
Yes — there’s no mistake here, so don’t be so surprised 😉
In the U.S., you can also slide the fifth wheel to achieve legal axle weights.
If you have already slid the tandems all the way forward and still have too much weight on the drive axles, sliding the fifth wheel can help.
Adjusting the fifth wheel affects both the drive axles and the steer axle, so always keep the steer axle weight limit in mind.
To transfer weight from the drive axles to the steer axle, slide the fifth wheel forward.
If the steer axle is overloaded, slide the fifth wheel rearward.
The trailer must be connected.
Straighten the combination.
Lower the trailer landing gear until it touches the ground.
Lower the suspension to remove trailer weight from the fifth wheel.
Release the fifth wheel pins (cab-mounted switch).
Release the tractor brake, keeping the trailer brakes applied.
Carefully move the tractor in the required direction.
Engage the fifth wheel pins (cab-mounted switch).
Apply the tractor brake.
Exit the cab and check whether the pins aligned with the correct holes.
If not, return to step 5.
If aligned correctly, continue.
Carefully verify that all pins are fully engaged in their holes.
Raise the suspension.
Retract the trailer landing gear.
Reweigh the combination.
SLIDING THE FIFTH WHEEL BY ONE HOLE CHANGES AXLE WEIGHT BY APPROXIMATELY 500 LBS
| STATE | CODE | HEIGHT | MAXIMUM LENGHT OF A TRAILER | LENGT FROM KINGPIN | HOW TO MEASURE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | AL | 13'6" | 57' | 41' | Kingpin to Center of Rear Axle |
| Arizona | AZ | 14' | 57'6" interstate only | N/A | |
| Arkansas | AR | 14' WITH PERMIT | 59'6" WITH PERMIT | N/A | |
| California | CA | 14' | 53' | 40' | Kingpin to Center of Rear Axle |
| Colorado | CO | 14' | 57' | N/A | |
| Connecticut | CT | 13'6' | 53' | 42'8" | Kingpin to Center of Rear Axle |
| Delaware | DE | 13'6" | 53' | 41' | |
| Florida | FL | 13'6" | 57' WITH PERMIT | 41' | Kingpin to the Point Between the Axles |
| Georgia | GA | 13'6" | 57' WITH PERMIT | N/A | |
| Idaho | ID | 14' | 57' WITH PERMIT | N/A | |
| Illinois | IL | 13'6" | 53' | 45'6" | Kingpin to Center of Rear Axle |
| Indiana | IN | 13'6" | 53' | 43' | Kingpin to Center of Rear Axle |
| Iowa | IA | 13'6" | 53' | N/A | |
| Kansas | KS | 14' | 57' | N/A | |
| Kentucky | KY | 13'6" | 53' | N/A | |
| Louisiana | LA | 14' WITH PERMIT | 57' | N/A | |
| Maine | ME | 13'6" | 53' | 43' | Kingpin to Center of Rear Axle |
| Maryland | MD | 13'6" | 53' | 41' | Kingpin to Center of Rear Axle |
| Massachusetts | MA | 13'6" | 53' | N/A | |
| Michigan | MI | 13'6" | 53' | 41' | Kingpin to the Point Between the Axles |
| Minnesota | MN | 13'6" | 53' | 43' | Kingpin to the Point Between the Axles |
| Mississippi | MS | 13'6" | 57' WITH PERMIT | N/A | |
| Missouri | MO | 13'6" | 53' | N/A | |
| Montana | MT | 14' | 53' | N/A | |
| Nebraska | NE | 14' | 53' | N/A | |
| Nevada | NV | 14' | 53' | N/A | |
| New Hampshire | NH | 13'6" | 53' | 41' | Kingpin to the Point Between the Axles |
| New Jersey | NJ | 13'6" | 53' | 41' | Kingpin to the Point Between the Axles |
| New Mexico | NM | 14' | 57' interstate only | N/A | |
| New York | NY | 13'6" | 53' | 43' | Kingpin to the Point Between the Axles |
| North Carolina | NC | 13'6" | 53' | 41' | Kingpin to Center of Rear Axle |
| North Dakota | ND | 14' | 53' | N/A | |
| Ohio | OH | 13'6" | 53' | 41' | |
| Oklahoma | OK | 14' WITH PERMIT | 59'6" | ||
| Oregon | OR | 14' | 53' | N/A | |
| Pennsylvania | PA | 13'6" | 53' | 41' | Kingpin to the Point Between the Axles |
| Rhode Island | RI | 13'6" | 53' Interstate only | 41' | Kingpin to Center of Rear Axle |
| South Carolina | SC | 13'6" | 53' | 41' | Kingpin to the Point Between the Axles |
| South Dakota | SD | 14' | 53' | N/A | |
| Tennessee | TN | 13'6" | 53' | 41' | Kingpin to the Point Between the Axles |
| Texas | TX | 14' | 57' | N/A | |
| Utah | UT | 14' | 57' WITH PERMIT | N/A | |
| Vermont | VT | 13'6" | 53' | 41' | Kingpin to Center of Rear Axle |
| Virginia | VA | 13'6" | 53' | 41' | Kingpin to the Point Between the Axles |
| Washington | WA | 14' | 53' | N/A | |
| Washington | DC | 13'6" | 53' | 41' | |
| West Virginia | WV | 13'6" | 53' | 41' | |
| Wisconsin | WI | 13'6" | 53' | 43' | Kingpin to Center of Rear Axle |
| Wyoming | WY | 14' | 53' | N/A |