Preparation instructions are in Part C of this lesson.
DETERMINE IF LOADED VEHICLES ARE OVERSIZED OR OVERWEIGHT
Now you must review the operations order to determine if loaded
vehicles will be oversized or overweight.
Now locate in the
operations order the number and type of vehicles to be used to
transport the-cargo.
Then locate the type and quantity of cargo to
be transported.
Civil authorities determine the limitations on the
weight
and
dimensions
of
vehicles
using
public
highways.
Consequently, restrictions may vary considerably for interstate
shipments in the United States and those crossing national boundaries
in overseas areas. You must know the local regulations or must check
your SOP.
To determine if loaded vehicles are overweight or oversized, you must
compare the size and weight of loaded vehicles to the standards
established by each state.
State requirements are shown in a chart
entitled, "Legal Maximum Dimensions and Weight of Motor Vehicles
Compared with AASHTO Standards". This chart prepared by the American
Association of State Highway and Transport Officials (AASHTO) is
found in FM 55-312; however an extract of this chart is found in
Figure 4-1.
To determine the weight of a loaded vehicle, you must weigh it if
vehicle weight scales are available.
If scales are not available,
you can use the loaded vehicles axle weight-distribution formulas and
percentages found in FM 55-312 to determine a loaded vehicle's
weight.
By design standards, a vehicle has a given cargo area measured in
cubic feet.
This is governed by the length, width, height of the
vehicle's cargo bed, and a given payload (weight capacity).
Theoretically, a perfect cargo load would be one with the exact cubic
measurement and weight in pounds as the payload capacity of the
vehicle carrying it. For example, if the maximum payload capacity of
an M813 5-ton cargo truck traveling on a highway were fully used, the
load if piled up no higher than the side racks would occupy about 513
cubic feet (14.53 cubic meters) and would weigh 10,000 pounds. These
conditions, however, are seldom if ever met.
77
TR1009
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