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I was browsing through some old truck pictures and ran across a three axle van trailer with ABF markings. I remember seeing a few of those in Michigan years ago. Can't find much info on them . Any of you guys able to fill me in about them ? Thanks.
 
I was browsing through some old truck pictures and ran across a three axle van trailer with ABF markings. I remember seeing a few of those in Michigan years ago. Can't find much info on them . Any of you guys able to fill me in about them ? Thanks.
There were lots of comments about them on here over the years, from different areas but from carlisle pa, I remember using them mostly to run from carlisle to Burlington Vt, over the back roads. Burlington was too far to run with doubles back then, so we use to run up to Albany, then across US 4 and up US 7a and onto 22 or something, I'd have to look it up to be sure. They were challenging at times because back then ATM machines were not always available and if I needed a cash advance I had to plan ahead. And if I needed to pull into a bank to use the ATM, sometimes it was a small parking lot and it would blow out the middle tire. Other times if I had to back into a tight spot, they didn't always go where I wanted it to go.....
 
They used to allow city guys to pickup freight longer then 28'. Then they could move the long freight and 40,000 lbs on the trailer with a single axel truck. We used to get rail road track all the time with them. But about 12-15 years ago they stopped getting new ones and put a ban on any freight that wouldn't fit on a pup. Just surprised they haven't gone back to taking on longer ugly freight now that they run 53's and screws on the road
 
There were lots of comments about them on here over the years, from different areas but from carlisle pa, I remember using them mostly to run from carlisle to Burlington Vt, over the back roads. Burlington was too far to run with doubles back then, so we use to run up to Albany, then across US 4 and up US 7a and onto 22 or something, I'd have to look it up to be sure. They were challenging at times because back then ATM machines were not always available and if I needed a cash advance I had to plan ahead. And if I needed to pull into a bank to use the ATM, sometimes it was a small parking lot and it would blow out the middle tire. Other times if I had to back into a tight spot, they didn't always go where I wanted it to go.....
Copy that. I thought I had seen some discussion of them but couldn't remember if it was this site or not. I searched it and only came up with 1 reference. Maybe info got wiped out in crash. Thanks for reply.
 
They used to allow city guys to pickup freight longer then 28'. Then they could move the long freight and 40,000 lbs on the trailer with a single axel truck. We used to get rail road track all the time with them. But about 12-15 years ago they stopped getting new ones and put a ban on any freight that wouldn't fit on a pup. Just surprised they haven't gone back to taking on longer ugly freight now that they run 53's and screws on the road
The ones I used to see were always in Michigan and I never really gave it much thought. I figured they were captive to Michigan because of the higher weight limits up there (up to 180,000 on 11 axles ) but the pictures I found were from the Northeast and got me to wondering.
 
There were lots of comments about them on here over the years, from different areas but from carlisle pa, I remember using them mostly to run from carlisle to Burlington Vt, over the back roads. Burlington was too far to run with doubles back then, so we use to run up to Albany, then across US 4 and up US 7a and onto 22 or something, I'd have to look it up to be sure. They were challenging at times because back then ATM machines were not always available and if I needed a cash advance I had to plan ahead. And if I needed to pull into a bank to use the ATM, sometimes it was a small parking lot and it would blow out the middle tire. Other times if I had to back into a tight spot, they didn't always go where I wanted it to go.....
They were an attempt to gross 80000 lbs using single axle power. However, they were fixed axles with too much overhang to the rear. Even had two legs at the rear that dropped down for support when loading. If loaded with too much weight to the rear they were pretty hairy in snow and ice. Tire wear was a joke as well. Another idea from the FORT that wasn't practical in day to day use.
 
There were lots of comments about them on here over the years, from different areas but from carlisle pa, I remember using them mostly to run from carlisle to Burlington Vt, over the back roads. Burlington was too far to run with doubles back then, so we use to run up to Albany, then across US 4 and up US 7a and onto 22 or something, I'd have to look it up to be sure. They were challenging at times because back then ATM machines were not always available and if I needed a cash advance I had to plan ahead. And if I needed to pull into a bank to use the ATM, sometimes it was a small parking lot and it would blow out the middle tire. Other times if I had to back into a tight spot, they didn't always go where I wanted it to go.....

Vermont doesn't allow doubles on the state roads you've mentioned (7a and 22). At YRCF, we run doubles to Burlington by way of the ferry from Plattsburgh (Cumberland Head) to Grand Isle and then US2 to I89.
 
There were lots of comments about them on here over the years, from different areas but from carlisle pa, I remember using them mostly to run from carlisle to Burlington Vt, over the back roads. Burlington was too far to run with doubles back then, so we use to run up to Albany, then across US 4 and up US 7a and onto 22 or something, I'd have to look it up to be sure. They were challenging at times because back then ATM machines were not always available and if I needed a cash advance I had to plan ahead. And if I needed to pull into a bank to use the ATM, sometimes it was a small parking lot and it would blow out the middle tire. Other times if I had to back into a tight spot, they didn't always go where I wanted it to go.....
I knew a guy from Carolina Freight carriers ,Rolley Bell ,he also ran Burlington Vermont ,Do you know him
 
They were an attempt to gross 80000 lbs using single axle power. However, they were fixed axles with too much overhang to the rear. Even had two legs at the rear that dropped down for support when loading. If loaded with too much weight to the rear they were pretty hairy in snow and ice. Tire wear was a joke as well. Another idea from the FORT that wasn't practical in day to day use.
 
The idea was to use a single axle tractor for heavy freight like batteries. The axles were moved more than once in an attempt to get the maximum weight limit per axle. The Little Rock shop worked on several a few years back for an account that later was lost. I think they were renumbered after the modification. I don't remember who bought them but they were in good condition when the decision was made to abandon them.
The story we heard for the reason to try them was that an upper echelon company manager saw them being used in Europe while there on vacation.
 
That name sounds very familer What terminal did he run out of. Maybe Carlisle ?
I was with CFCC for awhile I think there were several Bell s that ran out of Carlisle Breakbulk there was a Bell that ran a TOL turn but I don't think his first name was Rolley
 
One time in 2013 I saw a triple axle trailer here at 156. Inbound from Sac. Shipped outbound later that evening. Haven't seen another since. I figured it was primarily used somewhere back east for specialty use, or to comply with certain states vehicle compliance/restrictions. Another type of trailer I haven't seen too much lately are the 28' "covered wagons". Pups with canvas tops.
 
They were an attempt to gross 80000 lbs using single axle power. However, they were fixed axles with too much overhang to the rear. Even had two legs at the rear that dropped down for support when loading. If loaded with too much weight to the rear they were pretty hairy in snow and ice. Tire wear was a joke as well. Another idea from the FORT that wasn't practical in day to day use.
We used them years ago to haul wire rope (Bridon American) when we swapped trailers. The old mack would be lugging pulling 40,000 back....
 
They were an attempt to gross 80000 lbs using single axle power. However, they were fixed axles with too much overhang to the rear. Even had two legs at the rear that dropped down for support when loading. If loaded with too much weight to the rear they were pretty hairy in snow and ice. Tire wear was a joke as well. Another idea from the FORT that wasn't practical in day to day use.
Kind of reminds me of CFCC and the drop belly pups. Don't know if any of those crossed over to ABF side after merger . Crouse Cartage Co. (CCC) in Michigan used some for awhile. They looked like old drop belly UPS pups. There was a section of floor from just aft of the landing gear to just forward of the axle that would lift up on air powered rollers then slide forward. There would in essence be a pit that we broke stuff off skids and loose freight and put it in the belly. The floor section would then slide back in place and then load like a normal pup. Great idea on paper I guess but sucked when you were the one in the pit.
 
One time in 2013 I saw a triple axle trailer here at 156. Inbound from Sac. Shipped outbound later that evening. Haven't seen another since. I figured it was primarily used somewhere back east for specialty use, or to comply with certain states vehicle compliance/restrictions. Another type of trailer I haven't seen too much lately are the 28' "covered wagons". Pups with canvas tops.
Yeah, don't see the ragtops much anymore. I'll see a ragtop sea can on an intermodal train once in awhile , usually 20' or 40'. Hardly ever a 45' or 48'
 
Yeah, don't see the ragtops much anymore. I'll see a ragtop sea can on an intermodal train once in awhile , usually 20' or 40'. Hardly ever a 45' or 48'

Ryder along with Carolina, had a slew of 45' ragtops, we transported Nike Missles from Charl. to Cape Canaveral.
Missles were in aluminum containers, 2 pr trailer, about 19k lb, 14' high.
This were the days before 3 axle tractors were allowed on the east coast.
We had special permits for night and weekends, at that time S.C. prohibited oversize loads on weekends or inclimate weather.
I'll save another tale about these oversize loads for another day.
 
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