Lousiana lift axle law

[bubblehead]

LIFT AXLES
Lift axles are legal, but must be a full weight bearing axle. The controls must be located outside
of the vehicle.
http://mainetruckescort.com/pdf/Louisiana.pdf

In order to comply with Louisana and a couple other states with this law, we installed a diverter valve($70) and a second set of controls ($270) outside of the truck and located them in a locked underbelly box. This allows us to have full control from the drivers seat in the remaining states that allow it. I still believe that law is flawed and unsafe, but it allows us to be in compliance and avoid the $100 fine and possible impound when transversing their state.

If you have any other suggestions to comply please post here.

 

[layoutshooter]

LIFT AXLES
Lift axles are legal, but must be a full weight bearing axle. The controls must be located outside
of the vehicle.
http://mainetruckescort.com/pdf/Louisiana.pdf

In order to comply with Louisana and a couple other states with this law, we installed a diverter valve($70) and a second set of controls ($270) outside of the truck and located them in a locked underbelly box. This allows us to have full control from the drivers seat in the remaining states that allow it. I still believe that law is flawed and unsafe, but it allows us to be in compliance and avoid the $100 fine and possible impound when transversing their state.

If you have any other suggestions to comply please post here.

Same thing in parts of Canada. We just have the controls outside.

 

[greg334]

Why would it be unsafe?

 

[OntarioVanMan]

I remember someone posted awhile back that Arkansas had the same rule...controls on the outside...

 

[greg334]

So with the controls outside, the passenger has to climb out the truck while it is rolling, along the running board and reach down to put the axles down?

 

[layoutshooter]

So with the controls outside, the passenger has to climb out the truck while it is rolling, along the running board and reach down to put the axles down?

Yep, and it's REALLY hard on my truck, they are inside of a side box!! It really sucks in the winter!!

 

[bubblehead]

Why would it be unsafe?

Crossing a railroad crossing on a lousiana secondary road can be fun when the drive axle dosen't drive because the "hump" over the crossing. Happened to me when we were driving for someone else...fortunately they had the control in the dash...simply raised axle and kept going...not a option if control was "outside".

 

[layoutshooter]

Crossing a railroad crossing on a lousiana secondary road can be fun when the drive axle dosen't drive because the "hump" over the crossing. Happened to me when we were driving for someone else...fortunately they had the control in the dash...simply raised axle and kept going...not a option if control was "outside".

That used to happen to us when we drove for an owner, only when the truck was empty and I forgot to raise the axle. My truck "releases" air as needed to compensate. I can run axle down, empty without a problem. Sometimes too if you have too much pressure in the axle it can cause a problem.

 

[greg334]

So poorly designed RR crossings make it unsafe?

Aren't these throughout the country?

I was thinking that if has something to do with the design of the axle, how the truck handles or something else along the lines of a consistent unsafe condition.

 

[layoutshooter]

So poorly designed RR crossings make it unsafe?

Aren't these throughout the country?

I was thinking that if has something to do with the design of the axle, how the truck handles or something else along the lines of a consistent unsafe condition.

It can be a problem even on fairly good roads. If your air pressure is too high, more likely if the axle is down with no weight on it. It lifts the drive tires off of the road, sometime a little and sometimes to where they just spin free and the truck won't move

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Whats with this..am I missing something? I drove a dual axel for years delivering beef and what not Even Mail contract in the boonies...whats with this RR crossing stuff?

Oh wait you must have a drag axle???

Guess a push axle is the better way to go......

 

[layoutshooter]

Whats with this..am I missing something? I drove a dual axel for years delivering beef and what not Even Mail contract in the boonies...whats with this RR crossing stuff?

Oh wait you must have a drag axle???

Guess a push axle is the better way to go......

A lift axle in front of the drive axle NOT a twin screw truck

 

[OntarioVanMan]

A lift axle in front of the drive axle NOT a twin screw truck

so you goofed in design....rear axle should be the drive...

 

[layoutshooter]

so you goofed in design....rear axle should be the drive...

No you read wrong. My rear axle IS my drive axle. The lift axle CAN lift the drive axle off the road.

 

[greg334]

Whats with this..am I missing something? I drove a dual axel for years delivering beef and what not Even Mail contract in the boonies...whats with this RR crossing stuff?

Oh wait you must have a drag axle???

Guess a push axle is the better way to go......

The road cuts right across the tracks which is elevated about 2 or 3 feet above the road, so you have to go up a very very very very short hill and a hump. Sometimes you will see signs in BIG LETTERS NO TRUCKS and they mean it. Trains sometimes travel 50 mph on these tracks. I have seen a truck get stuck on a set of tracks and the driver was in a panic to get the thing off the tracks. He screwed up the trailer but got it off the tracks.

 

[layoutshooter]

The road cuts right across the tracks which is elevated about 2 or 3 feet above the road, so you have to go up a very very very very short hill and a hump. Sometimes you will see signs in BIG LETTERS NO TRUCKS and they mean it. Trains sometimes travel 50 mph on these tracks. I have seen a truck get stuck on a set of tracks and the driver was in a panic to get the thing off the tracks. He screwed up the trailer but got it off the tracks.

Some have no "lowboy" signs on them as well.

 

[Jefferson3000]

So with the controls outside, the passenger has to climb out the truck while it is rolling, along the running board and reach down to put the axles down?

Why the passenger? Heck, let the driver hang out the side.

 

[nightcreacher]

the idea for the controls out side the cab,is so you don't mess with the air for the tag axle.YOu can reposition the weight by lowering or raising the tag,let me put that a different way,by increasing or decreasing the air.
The states dont want you running those 20000 lb loads on just the rear axle,they figure if your about to be pulled over,you might change the axle weights with your air control valve

 

[bubblehead]

the idea for the controls out side the cab,is so you don't mess with the air for the tag axle.YOu can reposition the weight by lowering or raising the tag,let me put that a different way,by increasing or decreasing the air.
The states dont want you running those 20000 lb loads on just the rear axle,they figure if your about to be pulled over,you might change the axle weights with your air control valve

I think you got that right! They figured that since someone may abuse the equipment they will make us all suffer and compromise our safety by requiring outside controls.... I talked with a La. DOT several weeks before we added the axle and that is basically what he said. When I questioned him about the railroad tracks, he said I shouldn't have crossed them unless I was sure I would clear