Thank you for making this video. I've been driving for six years but I've always had issues with sliding tandems and sometimes I think I'm overthinking it or missing an important step. And after watching this I'm seeing that letting the Trailer brakes eating to fill with air buy me the ticket to my hardships. I rarely do this step and was not aware of it. Quite embarrassing. But thank you for sharing once again and hopefully this is the reason why I always have trouble getting those pins to go in with ease.
This just saved me today. I’m doing my first load and they require that the tandems be slid back at the dock door and my mentor never showed me how to actually do it 🥲
I was in the same position. I never was actually taught that. I dreaded that fateful day where the receiver demanded they be slid and a gentleman helped that was docked next to me. This video would have saved me the worry has I watched it first
Hey man this helped alot I normally drive a 38 foot trailer but today took a 53 footer and needed a refresher on tandem sliding I havent done it in about 10 years
Brother thank you so much for your video 🙏 It helped me a lot today I was in trouble at weight situation the guy who was in office he told me to slid the tandem back and I didn’t know that but now I can 😍😍
Thanks man for this video am in training for the next few weeks but my trainer tell me what to do once but he expected to learn right away and do it my self so my first time when he let me do it i didn’t cause for real I forgot but he lost it he got crazy saying i don’t listen and i want to do my way your video is telling me you way better teacher and a trainer thanks man to be a mentor for all the new drivers God bless you.
Great video my brother... you just helped me slide my tandems back!!! I always wondered when I go somewhere one day someone will put me on the spot and tell me I need you to slide your tandems back!!! Great video!!! Appreciate you!!!
alright so I never comment on videos, but this one I will. more truckers NEED this kind of HOW TO video style to get an exact view on how to do certain things they need everyday. you'd think its common knowledge but it's not!!! I'm a Diesel Mechanic and don't know the ins and outs of how to drive a Semi, but I can keep them rolling. problem is sometimes we get drivers needing to slide their tandems, for example, and don't know the basic steps to doing so. as a Mechanic we aren't allowed inside the cabs so we tell them, SET your trailer brakes and RELEASE your truck brakes and they ask me what buttons to push/pull and we have to tell them that we don't drive the trucks... you're How To video is clear and to the point! trust me all the other videos just say set and release blah blah blah. you actually show what button does what when you want it to. THANK YOU! so for future videos, if you're still making them, would be to make more videos about things you encounter on the road from drivers needing help with stuff that most would think is common knowledge, I E - 5th wheel sliding, inflating/deflating airbags, ect.
Haha way cooler in my mind 🙈getting my license than actually being a truck driver 🙂great video. I wish you had my trailer that kicked my butt it’s so old I was fighting moving the handle let alone locking it in place. Had my feet off the frame trying to pull back 🙃😂
no chalks or curbs available- carry a can of wd-40 ( it works!) just spray your slide rails on the inner side front and rear and then spray each round hole on each side that your tandem is making contact with the rail including the hole where pins are located... it also saves problems on older trailers if you apply wd-40 when trailer is empty before loading a heavy load it will be easy for tandems to slide back forward when trailer brakes are not holding tandem in position.... wd-40 causes a slick surface which allows less friction between the metal of the slider rails and the tandem bogie.. I have also made this work with windex as well as fifth wheel greese but wd-40 work the best...
It was a great video but I think you forgot to add the most important step which was to calculate how far to slide your tandems which is the main reason most people need to slide their tandems to begin with. 300lbs for the short space holes and six hundred pounds for the widespace holes etc
Great advice! It depends also on the trailer manufacturer some are 250, 300, 400, & 600. It varies, but that is a great point thanks for bringing that up for those that need this info 😁
I wished I watched this video before I was put to the test in the field by a receiver that demanded they be slid. I would’ve been spared the embarrassment had I watched this video first. GREAT VIDEO BRO!!!
The way I identify which direction to slide the tandem is to move it TOWARD the problem (a.k.a. overweight axle). If the drive axles were overweight, you would slide the tandems forward, toward the drive axle. Conversely, if the tandem trailer axles were heavy, you slide them rearward which in turn distributes more weight to the drives and reducing the load carried by the tandems. The amount to slide the tandems, or number of holes is determined by the specific trailer manufacture and type. I am sure there may be more, but the two more common ones I have been exposed are either 250lbs/hole or 400lbs/hole. Calculate average differential between axles and determine how many holes to adjust; identify which direction to move the tandems, and slide the tandems the correct amount of holes. Ex. Before adjusting (assume trailer is a type that each hole moved provides a 250 lb adjustment) = adjusting factor Tractor Steer (Front) axle: 11,100 lbs Tractor Drive (Rear) axle: 31,750 lbs Trailer (Tandem) axle: 35,215 lbs Total weight 78,065 lbs By observation total weight is under 80K so legal, steers are under 12K so legal but tandem is OVER 34K so not legal. - It is identified that the tandems must be slid toward the rear (towards the problem) to distribute more weight to drive axles the lighter of the two axles. - To calculate how many holes determine the difference between the two axles divide by two and divide by the adjusting rate. * NOTE - Use the larger number first then deduct smaller so quantity remains positive. Balance load (35,215 - 31,750)/2 lbs = (3,465/2) lbs ==> 1733 lbs; now divide by adjusting rate(per trailer type/manufacturer) 1.733 lbs / 250 lbs/hole then round off to whole number ==> 6.93 or 7 holes (to the front) to balance load or 4 holes per 1,000 lb (250lb/hole) in this case 1,750 / 1,000 = 1.75 * 4 holes (adj. factor) = 7 holes same result different approach. Ex. After adjusting (Balance Load) Tractor Steer (Front) axle: 11,100 lbs Tractor Drive (Rear) axle: 33,500 lbs Trailer (Tandem) axle: 33,465 lbs Total weight 78,065 lbs Based on the above information, this tells us that if we slide the tandems rearward (towards the problem) 7 holes the weight should be distributed as evenly as practical between the drive axles and tandems. Given that we have identified (7) holes to travel to balance the load equally, this may not be possible or practical, so the next alternative would be to identify how many holes are required to reduce the weight limit below a legal weight per axle limit. Legal Weight per Axle (34K / axle) Tandem (35,215 - 34,000) = (1,215 lbs / 250 lbs/hole) ==> 4.86 holes or 5 holes this case ALWAYS round UP or 1,215 rounded to next 250 increment is 1,250 / (4 holes per 1,000) ==> 5 holes Ex. After adjusting (Legal Weight per Axle) Tractor Steer (Front) axle: 11,100 lbs Tractor Drive (Rear) axle: 33,000 lbs Trailer (Tandem) axle: 33,965 lbs Total weight 78,065 lbs In this case is the MINIMUM number of holes to slide tandems to get each axle under legal weight rating, so if I had more I would use them if available and practical. Hope this helps and use whatever tools helps you simplify your process which I like to round off to 1,000 lb increments and can do math more quickly and in head that way by multiplying an adjustment factor. As a side note, if the trailer was such that the hole adjustment rate was 400 lb / hole then I would have to modify the 2nd method to account for that by identifying 2.5 holes adjustment factor per 1,000 lb (400 lb/hole). I hope this doesn't muddy the concept... or 1,215 rounded to next 400 increment is 1,600 / (2.5 holes per 1,000) ==> 4.8 holes or 5 holes It is only coincidental with this example that both ratings (400lb / hole & 250 lb / hole) ended up at 5 holes and would not expect that to be the norm.
I've noticed that on some trucks I can't use descent control going down a steep hill. My instructor told me before that you wait till your at the crest of the mountain . Then you stab break 1,2,,3. Then you put your jake down ..then you put on cruise control on some trucks I can't do that. And to make sure we're in the right gear
Pls correct me if am wrong. To move the the back tire further back you will push the yellow in and red out then put it in reverse. And to move the tire forward you will push yellow in and red out then put it in drive. Am I correct?
How long does it approximately take you to do this every time you have to adjust tandems? I was just wondering, because I heard that there are different tandem requirements for each state.
So TYPICALLY on the fifth wheel each hole is about 500-600lbs and on the trailer tandems it depends on if they are the holes close together or farther apart it can range usually between 300-600lbs
This is not easy being solo driver either I’m to forward or back some say they need to be on the 5th hole for California where I’m at I know as long as your 10 ft from dot bumper and center of last axle you good but you don’t have a tape measure this just sucks spend to much time there solo
Best step by step I’ve watched so far. Thank you
Of course anytime!
Thank you for making this video. I've been driving for six years but I've always had issues with sliding tandems and sometimes I think I'm overthinking it or missing an important step. And after watching this I'm seeing that letting the
Trailer brakes eating to fill with air buy me the ticket to my hardships. I rarely do this step and was not aware of it. Quite embarrassing. But thank you for sharing once again and hopefully this is the reason why I always have trouble getting those pins to go in with ease.
Very helpful and easy to use and understand good video
This just saved me today. I’m doing my first load and they require that the tandems be slid back at the dock door and my mentor never showed me how to actually do it 🥲
Yes!! That’s awesome my man so glad it helped you out! 🙌
I was in the same position. I never was actually taught that. I dreaded that fateful day where the receiver demanded they be slid and a gentleman helped that was docked next to me. This video would have saved me the worry has I watched it first
Same boat
Thank you for this 👏
Nice explanation
You just helped me out, thank you my good sir!!
You’re so welcome!!
OMG Sir I salute you for this easy tutorial my trainer sucks 😭
This kid a truck driver!!! Could have fool me!!!
Yeah ! kettlemen city !
What up from
Fresno 👌🏽
Hey man this helped alot I normally drive a 38 foot trailer but today took a 53 footer and needed a refresher on tandem sliding I havent done it in about 10 years
Yes! 🙌 That’s awesome I’m so glad it helped man 😁
Thanks so much I'm a new driver yesterday was my first time moving my tandems using your 5steps. Yeaaa I did it thanks so much👏👏👏
Thanks for easy explanation
Very helpful . Going to school in April. I did pass my CLP had NO idea what tandems were. NOW I KNOW. I'LL watch all you videos. I love you humor
Thank you! Simple and straightforward
Brother thank you so much for your video 🙏 It helped me a lot today I was in trouble at weight situation the guy who was in office he told me to slid the tandem back and I didn’t know that but now I can 😍😍
Of course man! This makes me so happy and these videos so worth it!!
good video dude
Awesome video
Thank you!
Great vedio
Saved me today 👍
Thank you
Your a life saver bro did my first load today and for the life of me couldn’t remember this thank you so much
Thank you so much. This video has really made it clear on how to adjust the tandem . I was not showed to to do this correctly. You are a blessing😊
So awesome!! Love hearing that it has helped so many!!
Thanks for the video, I got asked to slide my tandems all way back today, and I just had no idea.
totes thumbs up bud, nice n easy 🤘
That was way cooler in my mind😂 story of my life. Dope video man!
What was? Haha 😂
Thanks man for this video am in training for the next few weeks but my trainer tell me what to do once but he expected to learn right away and do it my self so my first time when he let me do it i didn’t cause for real I forgot but he lost it he got crazy saying i don’t listen and i want to do my way your video is telling me you way better teacher and a trainer thanks man to be a mentor for all the new drivers God bless you.
Great video my brother... you just helped me slide my tandems back!!! I always wondered when I go somewhere one day someone will put me on the spot and tell me I need you to slide your tandems back!!! Great video!!! Appreciate you!!!
So awesome! So happy it could help you! 😁
The best explanation i have seen on how to slide tandems thanks
Of course my man! So glad it could help you🙌🙏
Not a trucker but from a trucking family. Always wondered about that. Thanks
Bro I love you right now. This trailer was kicking my ass
Man so happy this could help you out! 😁🙏
Thanks for the help. Keep up the great work.
I just smacked the pins with a hammer they popped in real easy but next time I will definitely try rocking the trailer 😬😁
alright so I never comment on videos, but this one I will. more truckers NEED this kind of HOW TO video style to get an exact view on how to do certain things they need everyday. you'd think its common knowledge but it's not!!! I'm a Diesel Mechanic and don't know the ins and outs of how to drive a Semi, but I can keep them rolling. problem is sometimes we get drivers needing to slide their tandems, for example, and don't know the basic steps to doing so. as a Mechanic we aren't allowed inside the cabs so we tell them, SET your trailer brakes and RELEASE your truck brakes and they ask me what buttons to push/pull and we have to tell them that we don't drive the trucks... you're How To video is clear and to the point! trust me all the other videos just say set and release blah blah blah. you actually show what button does what when you want it to. THANK YOU!
so for future videos, if you're still making them, would be to make more videos about things you encounter on the road from drivers needing help with stuff that most would think is common knowledge, I E - 5th wheel sliding, inflating/deflating airbags, ect.
Glad you loved it! And thanks for the ideas, I actually have one on sliding the fifth wheel 😁
Haha way cooler in my mind 🙈getting my license than actually being a truck driver 🙂great video. I wish you had my trailer that kicked my butt it’s so old I was fighting moving the handle let alone locking it in place. Had my feet off the frame trying to pull back 🙃😂
That was excellent, demostration, very easy to understand it. thank you very much.
Thank you sir I thought my day was ruined.
This is the best step by step I've seen thank you man
Absolutely you’re so welcome!!
@@thedillonsmith no problem man saludos desde albuquerque new mexico I love over the road but sometimes these tandems man. You explain it good
Ya the over the road life is rough!
@@thedillonsmith yes it is . Do you do videos on driving mountains ? Or parking between two trailers going back
I didn’t do a video like that but if you need specific help I’ll see what I can do! I actually came off the road, I’ll be doing a video on that soon!!
I have a hard time learning and honestly this video was the best explained one. Steps are simple to understand thank you 😊
You’re so welcome, so happy it helped! 🎉
@@thedillonsmith ☺️it did thanks
Could you setup a camera on a tripod aiming at the tandems, that way we can see what happens?
Nice tip with the Vise Grips.
Edifying video bro thanks
Thanks so much hadn't done this in awhile and you helped out greatly.
I subscribed only cause you save my life with this video !!!
Very detailed for new drivers like ME
Tnx man
Absolutely my man 😁🤙 So happy this helped!
Bro you video just help my life from TA just now that’s am a new driver 🙈🙈🙈
Thanks Bro 💪🏾
Awesome thank you
Most helpful video so far thank you
Awesome! Glad I could help and anytime 😁
I'm taking the truck driving course at XPO Logistics in the spring. Thank you so much for your insight!
no chalks or curbs available- carry a can of wd-40 ( it works!) just spray your slide rails on the inner side front and rear and then spray each round hole on each side that your tandem is making contact with the rail including the hole where pins are located... it also saves problems on older trailers if you apply wd-40 when trailer is empty before loading a heavy load it will be easy for tandems to slide back forward when trailer brakes are not holding tandem in position.... wd-40 causes a slick surface which allows less friction between the metal of the slider rails and the tandem bogie.. I have also made this work with windex as well as fifth wheel greese but wd-40 work the best...
Love it!!
Great video easy to understand 👍
Glad you enjoyed it 😁
Excellent teaching video!!!!
Thank you so much 😁
Very detailed!!!!!
Great vid...to the point!
It was a great video but I think you forgot to add the most important step which was to calculate how far to slide your tandems which is the main reason most people need to slide their tandems to begin with. 300lbs for the short space holes and six hundred pounds for the widespace holes etc
Great advice! It depends also on the trailer manufacturer some are 250, 300, 400, & 600. It varies, but that is a great point thanks for bringing that up for those that need this info 😁
Yes, that's the one part I was wondering about.
I wished I watched this video before I was put to the test in the field by a receiver that demanded they be slid. I would’ve been spared the embarrassment had I watched this video first. GREAT VIDEO BRO!!!
Thanks brotha!! 😁🤙
Great video very informative
Thank you! 😁
Excellent tutorial I still get little confused with sliding tandems but hopefully I have mentor like u cool dude
Thank you so much! Let me know if you need any help man! Be more than willing to help
The way I identify which direction to slide the tandem is to move it TOWARD the problem (a.k.a. overweight axle). If the drive axles were overweight, you would slide the tandems forward, toward the drive axle. Conversely, if the tandem trailer axles were heavy, you slide them rearward which in turn distributes more weight to the drives and reducing the load carried by the tandems.
The amount to slide the tandems, or number of holes is determined by the specific trailer manufacture and type. I am sure there may be more, but the two more common ones I have been exposed are either 250lbs/hole or 400lbs/hole.
Calculate average differential between axles and determine how many holes to adjust; identify which direction to move the tandems, and slide the tandems the correct amount of holes.
Ex. Before adjusting (assume trailer is a type that each hole moved provides a 250 lb adjustment) = adjusting factor
Tractor Steer (Front) axle: 11,100 lbs
Tractor Drive (Rear) axle: 31,750 lbs
Trailer (Tandem) axle: 35,215 lbs
Total weight 78,065 lbs
By observation total weight is under 80K so legal, steers are under 12K so legal but tandem is OVER 34K so not legal.
- It is identified that the tandems must be slid toward the rear (towards the problem) to distribute more weight to drive axles the lighter of the two axles.
- To calculate how many holes determine the difference between the two axles divide by two and divide by the adjusting rate.
* NOTE - Use the larger number first then deduct smaller so quantity remains positive.
Balance load
(35,215 - 31,750)/2 lbs = (3,465/2) lbs ==> 1733 lbs; now divide by adjusting rate(per trailer type/manufacturer)
1.733 lbs / 250 lbs/hole then round off to whole number ==> 6.93 or 7 holes (to the front) to balance load
or 4 holes per 1,000 lb (250lb/hole) in this case 1,750 / 1,000 = 1.75 * 4 holes (adj. factor) = 7 holes same result different approach.
Ex. After adjusting (Balance Load)
Tractor Steer (Front) axle: 11,100 lbs
Tractor Drive (Rear) axle: 33,500 lbs
Trailer (Tandem) axle: 33,465 lbs
Total weight 78,065 lbs
Based on the above information, this tells us that if we slide the tandems rearward (towards the problem) 7 holes the weight should be distributed as evenly as practical between the drive axles and tandems. Given that we have identified (7) holes to travel to balance the load equally, this may not be possible or practical, so the next alternative would be to identify how many holes are required to reduce the weight limit below a legal weight per axle limit.
Legal Weight per Axle (34K / axle)
Tandem (35,215 - 34,000) = (1,215 lbs / 250 lbs/hole) ==> 4.86 holes or 5 holes this case ALWAYS round UP
or 1,215 rounded to next 250 increment is 1,250 / (4 holes per 1,000) ==> 5 holes
Ex. After adjusting (Legal Weight per Axle)
Tractor Steer (Front) axle: 11,100 lbs
Tractor Drive (Rear) axle: 33,000 lbs
Trailer (Tandem) axle: 33,965 lbs
Total weight 78,065 lbs
In this case is the MINIMUM number of holes to slide tandems to get each axle under legal weight rating, so if I had more I would use them if available and practical.
Hope this helps and use whatever tools helps you simplify your process which I like to round off to 1,000 lb increments and can do math more quickly and in head that way by multiplying an adjustment factor. As a side note, if the trailer was such that the hole adjustment rate was 400 lb / hole then I would have to modify the 2nd method to account for that by identifying 2.5 holes adjustment factor per 1,000 lb (400 lb/hole). I hope this doesn't muddy the concept...
or 1,215 rounded to next 400 increment is 1,600 / (2.5 holes per 1,000) ==> 4.8 holes or 5 holes
It is only coincidental with this example that both ratings (400lb / hole & 250 lb / hole) ended up at 5 holes and would not expect that to be the norm.
Love it! 👌🏻🙏🏼🙌🏼👍🏼
Thanx,,,, great video,,,,simple steps....
Awesome!! Glad it could help 😁
Thank you Brother
Of course anytime! 😁
Great video. Thank you. It really helped. Happy 4th of July. God bless.
you have show'd me in five minutes than my finisher in thirty days
Thank you for this video it was really helpful. 👍😊
Absolutely! What other types of videos would you be interested in?
Thanks Brother, very good video.
very helpful👍
So glad it helped!!
Much appreciated 💯
I take it your on your 34 or your on sleeper right now . But good video very informational
I've noticed that on some trucks I can't use descent control going down a steep hill. My instructor told me before that you wait till your at the crest of the mountain . Then you stab break 1,2,,3. Then you put your jake down ..then you put on cruise control on some trucks I can't do that. And to make sure we're in the right gear
If you get a trailer that just won't slide.....find a water hose and spray the rails.
Great!! & thank you!!!!
Of course!
Thank you so much !!
Absolutely!
Thanks man
Of course brotha! 😁
Does the release arm lock back automatically when the locking pins come out, or do you have to push it back in?
Yes it should automatically lock back in, BUT it’s always a good idea to double check before heading out 😁👍
good stuff . Thank you
Of course! Glad it could help 😁🤙🏼
Thanks dawg
Ya mana off course!
Thx
If you are heavy at the trailer tire you slide up for wheels to go to the problem ? Confusing
Thanks you.
Of course 😁
good videos its very helpful
Pls correct me if am wrong. To move the the back tire further back you will push the yellow in and red out then put it in reverse. And to move the tire forward you will push yellow in and red out then put it in drive. Am I correct?
Correct
You know how to deal with the cat scale? Also the division and math so I connect to the right whole?
Each trailer is going to be different it usually ranges from 200-600lbs per hole
How long does it approximately take you to do this every time you have to adjust tandems? I was just wondering, because I heard that there are different tandem requirements for each state.
Doesn’t take very long at all 2 minutes or less 😁
Hey ! Tried to purchase property 🥰 in KETTLEMAN...CA...😱
Thanks 🙏! Very good instructions on sliding tandems forward or backwards. Wasn’t hurried and everything you said was clear and concise.
Dose placement of your tandems help with turning
Nice info man. Are you driving an automatic or a stick shift?
I was bouncing between auto and stick :)
How much weight is distrusted when you slide the trailer and when would you slide it forward or reverse
Are you talking about the fifth wheel or trailer tandems?
@@thedillonsmith a video on both would be great
My CDL school didn't teach any of this and I'm pretty sure it's important
So TYPICALLY on the fifth wheel each hole is about 500-600lbs and on the trailer tandems it depends on if they are the holes close together or farther apart it can range usually between 300-600lbs
@@thedillonsmith Okay thanks appreciate it
🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
How do u know how far to pull the tandem up
If you don't mind me asking, what hole should my tandems be when driving in nj?
For NJ it’s 41’ from Kingpen to rear axle
How do I spread axle
You have to have a spread axle trailer 😁👍
@@thedillonsmith ooh thanks man, had no idea 💡
Can u do this loaded or not ?
Yes a lot of times you will be loaded so you can adjust weight on tandems
@@thedillonsmith oh ok thx
Why are there 2 pins in the whole ? Don’t know much about rucking
It's all fun and games until the air valve blows
100% haha
This shit a pain in the ass sometimes... To know how much u need to go into the hole
Tytyty
That gave me absolutely no understanding on what hole it needs to be in.
That is based on where the weight needs to be distributed. Each hole can adjust the weight usually anywhere from 200-600lbs
And the max where the tandems can be based on which state your in. Let me know if you need more help I’d be more than happy to help 😁
@@thedillonsmith how do I know the weight?
You would take it to a scale
@@thedillonsmith the people who trip plan the load don't allow time for stops. I found a video that was very helpful on tandems. Thanks
This is not easy being solo driver either I’m to forward or back some say they need to be on the 5th hole for California where I’m at I know as long as your 10 ft from dot bumper and center of last axle you good but you don’t have a tape measure this just sucks spend to much time there solo
It’s takes some time, but it’ll eventually become second nature to you. I usually just step it out if I don’t have a tape measure 😁
@ 2pacnasgame ...put stone, stick, beer can on ground to mark your hole don't need tape...Happy Trails
White guy trying to be black. Lost me on the intro 👎.
😂😂😂
Thanks i just got my cdl and my instructer didnt cover this during school
Thank you for this video, I’ll be sure to subscribe 🫱🏼🫲🏽