Commercial Vehicle Inspection Specialist Practice Test

To determine how much weight the trailer tandems can carry to remain compliant, we need to consider the total weight limits set by the Federal Bridge Formula and the typical weight limits for commercial vehicles.

First, the maximum legal gross weight for a commercial vehicle with a five-axle configuration is typically 80,000 lbs, assuming it's in compliance with federal regulations. The weight of the steering axle and the tractor tandem axles should be subtracted from this total to identify the remaining allowance for the trailer axles.

In this scenario, the total weight carried by the steering axles and tractor tandem axles is 12,420 lbs plus 33,980 lbs, which totals 46,400 lbs. To find out how much weight the trailer tandems can carry while remaining compliant with the federal weight regulations, we subtract this total from the maximum allowable weight of 80,000 lbs:

80,000 lbs (maximum gross vehicle weight) - 46,400 lbs (weight of the tractor) = 33,600 lbs.

This calculation indicates that the trailer tandems can legally carry 33,600 lbs without exceeding the 80,000 lbs gross weight limit for a five-axle configuration, making it the correct answer.

Understanding