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CAT Scale & Tandem Adjustment Worksheet

Record the actual ticket, calculate a cautious adjustment, and document the required reweigh. Never rely on a per-hole estimate as proof of legal weight.

Open axle tool

Date / Fecha

Load / Carga

Tractor / Tractor

Trailer / Remolque

State or route / Estado o ruta

Fuel level / Combustible

1. First certified weight / Primer peso certificado

Axle group / GrupoActual weight / PesoApplicable limit / LímiteDifference / Diferencia
Steer / Dirección
Drives / Tractor
Trailer tandems / Tandems
Gross / Bruto

Do not automatically use 12,000 / 34,000 / 34,000 as the answer. Applicable limits can depend on tire ratings, axle ratings, bridge spacing, state law, permits, equipment, and route. / No uses automáticamente 12,000 / 34,000 / 34,000 como respuesta.

2. Identify what can be adjusted / Identifica lo que puede ajustarse

Trailer tandems: primarily redistribute weight between the tractor drive axles and trailer tandem axles.

Quinta rueda / Fifth wheel: primarily redistributes weight between steer and drive axles, subject to equipment position and limits.

Cargo: may need to be repositioned or the load corrected when sliding equipment cannot produce a legal and safe result.

3. Plan the movement / Planifica el movimiento

  • Drives overweight: moving trailer tandems forward, toward the tractor, generally transfers weight from drives to trailer tandems.
  • Trailer tandems overweight: moving trailer tandems rearward generally transfers weight from trailer tandems to drives.
  • Steer axle issue: evaluate fifth-wheel position, axle/tire ratings, fuel and cargo distribution—not trailer tandems alone.
  • Gross overweight: sliding tandems does not reduce gross weight. Cargo or fuel weight must be reduced or otherwise legally corrected.

Overweight group / Grupo excedido

Pounds to move / Libras

Estimated pounds per hole / Libras estimadas por agujero

Planned holes and direction / Agujeros y dirección

Per-hole transfer is only an estimate. Trailer design, hole spacing, suspension, load position and measurement conditions affect the result. Use the carrier or equipment guidance when available.

4. Secure and verify / Asegura y verifica

  • Park on a suitable surface, secure the vehicle and follow the equipment procedure.
  • Confirm all tandem pins are fully engaged and visually inspect both sides.
  • Check legal tandem position and bridge/kingpin-to-rear-axle restrictions for the route.
  • Return to the scale and obtain the reweigh before continuing.

5. Final reweigh / Peso final

Axle group / GrupoFinal weight / Peso finalVerified limit / Límite verificadoLegal and safe? / ¿Legal y seguro?
Steer / Dirección
Drives / Tractor
Trailer tandems / Tandems
Gross / Bruto
Important / Importante: This worksheet is an educational planning aid. The certified scale ticket, applicable law, permits, vehicle ratings, cargo-securement requirements, employer procedures and final verified weights control the decision.

Reviewed for educational scope: · Editorial standards