Why a 6 axle moves 86,000 lb when a tandem stops at 45,000
Published
In Ontario a 6 axle unit carries up to 86,000 lb of freight, against about 45,000 lb on a tandem, so a heavy coil order that would need 2 tandems often goes on 1 Fission Logistics 6 axle out of Mississauga.
A 53 ft tandem is built for US legal weight: 80,000 lb gross, which leaves about 45,000 lb for freight. That's the right truck for most cross border loads. On a heavy load inside Ontario it leaves weight on the table, because Ontario allows more.
What the multi axle carries
Our 6 axle curtainsides carry up to 86,000 lb inside Ontario and into Michigan, and up to 76,000 lb into Ohio and Indiana. Our 4 axle units stay in Ontario and Quebec. Both are 50 ft curtainsides with a sliding roof and curtain, so they load like a Conestoga.
What that looks like
Take a heavy coil order from Hamilton to the GTA, ingots going to an extruder, or stone going to a yard. On tandems, each of those is often 2 trucks and 2 crane windows. On a 6 axle it's 1 truck, 1 crane window, 1 driver and 1 delivery to receive. How the coil rides is on our steel coil transport page.
Questions shippers ask
How much can a 6 axle carry in Ontario?
Up to 86,000 lb of freight inside Ontario and into Michigan, and up to 76,000 lb into Ohio and Indiana. A tandem carries about 45,000 lb.
Why does a tandem stop at 45,000 lb?
A 53 ft tandem is built for US legal weight, 80,000 lb gross, which leaves about 45,000 lb for freight. On a heavy load inside Ontario it leaves weight on the table, because Ontario allows more.
Do the 4 axle units go to the US?
No. Our 4 axle units stay in Ontario and Quebec. Heavy loads into Michigan, Ohio and Indiana go on the 6 axle.
How to book it
Send the weight and the lane. If it's over the 45,000 lb a tandem carries and the multi axle runs that lane, dispatch quotes it on 1 truck. More on the multi axle page and our Ontario to Michigan lane. The Ontario lanes the 6 axle runs are listed under flatbed trucking companies in Ontario.
More from the yard
Need a truck this week?
Send the lane and the weight. A dispatcher prices it within 1 business hour, and someone picks up the phone 24 hours a day.