A Good Truck Driver Story About Tandem Stopper

When I first started calculating the optimal tandem position, my friend Yevhen from Landstar advised me to buy a metal tandem stopper.

That was a long time ago. Since then, I've tested every type of tandem stopper across four generations, and in total I've owned more than ten of them, because I was determined to find the best option for you.

For now, most drivers don't realize that this is something worth using almost every day. The real reason is simple: you are not yet being paid several thousand dollars for professional load control.

Drivers are still not motivated to reduce winter accident risks or cut fuel costs through intentional axle load balancing. Right now, that money is simply taken by scale and enforcement companies.

But everything has its time: progress cannot be stopped.

The money will come, because without your professional load control, carriers lose up to $18,000 per year.

So let's talk about tandem stoppers.

When drivers start getting paid properly, you'll be sliding tandems every day, the right way. And then the question becomes: which tandem stop should you buy?

Let's talk honestly about all the models. What really matters is:

• how securely the stop holds in the hole;
• whether it pops out;
• whether it's safe;
• and whether it breaks.

1. First Generation

The oldest design is a simple metal pin. Right now, it costs about $16 on Amazon.

Unfortunately, it often falls out, because it has no retention mechanism. The good news is that it doesn't break and is generally safe.

Still, it's very frustrating to re-slide tandems when the stop pops out and your settings are lost, especially when you no longer know the optimal position.

2. Second Generation: Sta-Rat

Sta-Rat represents the second generation of tandem stops. I owned two of them and had high hopes.

Sadly, both broke. The worst part was watching a broken stop with a snapped steel wire dangerously flying across a parking lot at speed.

After that, I stopped using them and was happy to see the next generation arrive.

3. Third Generation: Magnastop

I'm grateful to Travis from Tennessee, who invented and built the third-generation stop: Magnastop.

I bought about five of them. They were good. I used them myself and gave some to friends.

Unfortunately, this American invention was quickly copied by manufacturers in China, likely because it never received proper patent protection.

It's a good product, but it's not immune to human error. One time, I accidentally installed a Magnastop the wrong way. It popped out and was slightly damaged.

Travis, I still respect you deeply. Thank you on behalf of all the drivers who used your invention.

Today, Magnastop costs about $40 on Amazon.

4. Fourth Generation: Dual-Magnet Stop

There is another excellent fourth-generation tandem stop with two magnets, priced at about $26.

Almost no one promotes it, because drivers still don't realize they'll need a stop like this every single day.

It almost never pops out, holds extremely well regardless of orientation, and is built to a higher quality standard.

This stop is simply underrated, which is why I personally recommend the dual-magnet design.

Why I'm Sharing This

Yevhen was seriously affected by COVID, and this good driver can no longer work on the road.

I'm grateful to him for the smart advice he once gave me, so I'm including an affiliate link in Mouse Scale for the fourth-generation stop in his support.

Get well soon, my friend.

P.S. I have a few extra stops from the first, second, and third generations that I no longer need. We'll give them away to drivers who share this post. Shipping is on me.