There is an option of removing the weight and putting it into another vehicle to split the load. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Temporary weigh stations can also be set up to accommodate an increase in truck traffic, whether seasonally or along stretches of roads with heavy truck traffic to alleviate backup at permanent weigh stations. In fact, they call weigh stations "chicken coops" for reasons you'll get to understand soon. For instance, in Colorado, the law states: As you see, the weight is set at 26,000 pounds in Colorado. A truck weigh station is a chosen point off the highway, mostly for trucks and other commercial vehicles where the state highway patrol examines the weight of a vehicle. Work will consist of reconstructing the currently unused weigh stations on I-71 south between SR . There are well over a million heavy-duty trucks roaming the highways of the United States. Ever blow by a Weigh Station when it was open? Every vehicle exceeding 26,000 pounds will need clearance either from the Colorado Department of Revenue, the Colorado state patrol officer, or the entry weigh station port. Trucks that surpass 10,000 pounds must stop for scaling. Job Listing Rules. Officers can require you to make the stop if you are not complacent with the limits and regulations of the state. 3 Years A weigh station allows trucks to be weighed while still on the road. CDL Grad, No Experience In one year the company's trucks received green lights to bypass weigh stations 94.35 percent of the time for a total of more than 30,800 bypasses. How to Use the Weigh Station View. That speed limit is not a suggestion; that is the law. If you don't want to wait for a long time, it might be best to consider taking an alternate route. You can check each states requirements at AAA Digest of Motor Laws. GPS Fleet Management Software that is simple to use, affordable, customizable and easy to install. Trucks above 7,500 pounds will have to stop. In addition, the constant heavy weight on the roads leads to a higher rate of repair of these roads. We keep you ELD compliant, efficient, and safe with GPS fleet tracking, dash cams, and eLogs. Consequences for overweight trucks vary from state to state but generally revolve around: Fines can be as high as $10,000 and multiple offenders may have to pay double or triple the normal fine. Because large vehicles are forced into a confined space prior to being weighed, weigh stations are also called chicken coops. 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Peace officers choose based on suspicion. But truck drivers know these places too well. These inspections vary from a level 1 to a level 6. Learn more about how to stay compliant and avoid penalties with Azuga. The only exception to this is if the driver has a PrePass or other bypass service. Police officers decide which vehicles will be examined. A weigh station is a designated checkpoint along a highway where a truck's weight is checked. All oversize/overweight trucks of 150,000 pounds will need a permit or they can buy one before entering the country. If you know this sign, then maybe you are a very observant driver because major interstates are not a joke, but also, maybe you know it because you are a truck driver. About weigh station scales These are all considered as truck malfunctions or violations of the regulations that can cause your truck to be declared out-of-service by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Reactive maintenance is a thing of the past. These stations are often located right off the highways and are used by semi trucks to make sure that they are not too heavy to be traveling on the roads. Weigh Stations: What Are They And How Do They Work? The sentence could last for up to 2 months, accompanied by the revoking of the drivers CDL. Azuga telematics ensures the same for your fleet. Sometimes cops are there to bust trucks that don't stop. Check some of the weight guidelines by state below: Yes. These facilities are operated by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), not by Caltrans. Ste.10 Romeoville, IL 60446. Every state runs its own rules and loads limits, but generally, trucks exceeding 10.000 pounds, motor trucks for property transportation, pickup trucks exceeding 11.500 pounds, agricultural vehicles, vehicles with a trailer beyond gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10.000 pounds, cargo vans depending on the load they carry, pickups with cab or crew cab with a box-type bed have to stop at the weighing control stations, unlike, say, a pickup with a camper shell. Its a comprehensive inspection and includes both the vehicle and driver. Weigh stations are used to weigh trucks for the inspection. Lights, headlamps, brake lamps, tail lamps, Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) certificate, Submission of any outstanding fees and paperwork, Flagging vehicles for additional evaluations. Simply pull into the station and wait for the cop to approach your RV. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. This then increases the amount the government spends on repairing and maintaining roads. Try out apps such as Apple Maps, RoadAhead, or Rest Area Finder to find rest areas near you. If an officer determines the weight is not within the weight limit, the vehicle can be stopped and unloaded until it reaches the allowed number. A more sensitive scale would be able to get measurements that are precise. If so, your truck will need to undergo repairs which will, later on, be checked by the FMCSA. Trucks surpassing 10,000 pounds will have to stop at weigh stations. 5+ Years, Please select ALL of your current, valid drivers licenses. Agriculture vehicles and commercial vehicles exceeding 10,000 pounds have to stop. Uribe media is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Load cell truck scales are made of concrete or steel with an electric wire as a sensitized strain gauge. Increase Productivity with the industrys Premier Towing Software! pngtuber twitch. Cars don't have to use them because there's no practical way for a car to carry over five tons of weight. No vehicle must exceed 22,400 lbs single axle load. It also serves as a safety measure for you as a truck driver and protects other people from accidents caused by overweight trucks. You can do this by using a weigh station app on your phone, or by typing in "weigh stations near me" into a search engine. Also, be sure to always check the road rules of your state to know what rules apply to your truck and if you need to stop at weigh stations along the way. What are Weigh Stations for? Other tasks performed at a truck weigh station include: In many states, any vehicle over 10,000 pounds must stop at a weigh station. That saved them 12,000 gallons of fuel and . Jan 21, 2015 #3 volvo244t Road Train Member 1,777 1,766 Jun 24, 2010 What is a Weigh Station And How Do Weigh Stations Work? If the weigh station is open, the signs will indicate the speed limit you need to observe when pulling in. The thing about weigh stations is that you have to stop at each and every one of them, and the rules, limits, and regulations vary according to state, but if you are in compliance with the rules and nice to officers, you will have no problems whatsoever. All vehicles above 26,000 pounds must stop. Portable weigh stations are used for weighing if a law enforcement officer recognizes the need for a vehicle to be weighed. This is where the inspectors check the driver's credentials and other items. Trucks must stop when instructed by a police officer, and often, they can be chosen for weighing randomly, or if they look suspicious. Trucking companies are responsible for making sure that the trucks they send out are under the legal weight limit. About truck weigh stations Your submission has been received! All rights reserved. I think its a $500.00 citation in Florida. Name: Sheldon. This site is not affiliated or endorsed by Facebook Instagram or any other social media platform. So when a trucker blows past a weigh station. However, its 26,000 lbs for the state of Colorado and 8000 lbs for the state of Montana. The reason why there are weigh stations is to ensure that the roads are not compromised by a potentially overweight vehicle. Route: US52 & US24. Does anyone have any stories of blowing right by the scales. Examples include: The level four inspection focuses on specific aspects of the vehicle. When a truck is over the weight limit, it poses a greater risk of bridge collapse or compromise. Ensure that the following parts are operating properly and are ready for inspection: A level 2 inspection is a walk-around driver/vehicle inspection. I would imagine that the scales that are used to measure the weight of trucks would need to be really sensitive. Note: countries like Washington, Arizona, Indiana, California, Ohio, and Florida have the highest chasing rates, so you might want to skip that skipping. Any truck that is over 10,000 pounds is legally obligated to stop at a . It may sound tedious, but its not like we are talking about an infinite number of states, right? It really stood out to me when you talked about how weigh stations are crucial because they help prevent structural damage from occurring to highways because of trucks that have too much weight. So what precisely is a weigh station? A menu with several options appears. By overweight, the US Department of Transportation defines a truck above 80.000 pounds, i.e. The signs will tell you where the weigh station is and if it is open or closed. Pull into any open weigh station you come across, and try not to load your truck beyond the weight threshold. Archived. Examples of the dangers of overweight vehicles include: Truck rollovers are especially dangerous because they often lead to very devastating accidents on the road. However, the lines get a little blurry with the differences in state to state weigh station laws. A weigh station is a location off the highway, where officials weigh vehicles. % of people told us that this article helped them. These officials also carry out an inspection of the vehicle and the driver.