Move weight before moving freight
Axle Weight Shift & Tandem Slider Calculator
Turn an axle overload into an instruction a driver or loader can use. Enter the weight that must move, the transfer measured for the combination, and available slider travel; the calculator rounds up to a usable whole-hole move and flags when the rail is too short.
- Time
- Takes about 1 minute
- Privacy
- Runs in your browser
- Output
- Slider move
Your inputs
Enter the load details
Planning result
Move the tandems 5 holes forward
A 30 in move transfers about 1,250 lb.
- Estimated transfer
- 1,250 lb
- Extra margin
- 110 lb
- Travel available
- 12 holes
What this means
- 1,140 lb ÷ 250 lb per hole = 4.56 holes.
- A slider can only stop on a whole hole, so the result rounds up.
Assumptions
- The entered transfer-per-hole value is correct for this tractor, trailer and load.
- The opposite axle group has enough legal and equipment capacity to receive the transferred weight.
Worked example
See the calculation in plain English.
A drive tandem 1,140 lb over with about 250 lb transferred per hole needs five holes forward: roughly 1,250 lb transferred over 30 inches.
What this tool does not decide
- Transfer per hole varies with wheelbase, kingpin setting, tandem geometry and load position.
- The receiving axle group must have legal and equipment headroom.
Common questions
Use the result without guessing.
Which way do I slide trailer tandems to remove weight from the drives?
Moving the trailer tandems forward generally transfers weight from the tractor drives to the trailer axle group. Confirm the direction and measured effect on your actual combination.
Is every tandem hole worth 250 lb?
No. That is a common rule of thumb, not a constant. Wheelbase, slider spacing, freight position and combination geometry change the result.