Weigh Station Procedures by State

cgraham · Sep 24, 2006

It would be useful to have a compilation of State weigh station procedures for non-commercial trailers (I assume the commercial guys already know and may have info for the rest of us). It's pretty easy to be overweight and not know it, for example. Or incorrect tie down. I'm not talking grossly, obviously unsafe.

Let's not talk here abut what one SHOULD have done to ensure compiance in the 1st place. We all make mistakes.

1) Does the state's weigh stations indicate commercial traffic only, or ALL trailers?

2) If you are in violation of something, are you allowed to proceed after receiving ticket? Or does it depend on type of violation and you might have to drop the trailer right there and find a solution? Overweight and inadequate tow vehicle would be a particular concern.

I assume we all know how to hook up properly.

Personally, I'm interested in AR, H, TX, NM

It might be worth compiling the responses and finding a host for the document

C

Boomerang1 · Sep 28, 2006

Not sure about non commercial but if you recieve a citation for over weight or improper tie down etc.. You can not procede until the problem is corrected. On and overweight you can buy an overweight permit to continue.

I pulled into a scale and was over weight because of ice and snow build up on my rig. I was given a choice, buy a permit and recieve a citation or chip off a 1000#s of ice.

If something on your rig is out of service, you have to call road service to fix the problem before you can continue and most of the time you still get a fine.
The road service calls are very expensive because they know you are "up a creek without a paddle"

Dirthog · Sep 29, 2006

In Pa a safety issue they will make you let it set until it fixed and you will be fined. for overloaded it depends if its axle weight they will give you a chance to move the load and may or may not fine you. if you are overloaded you will make it legal and pay a fine.

roxynoodle · Sep 30, 2006

Our Ohio weigh stations all give instructions on the signs for commercial vehicles. So, thus far, I have assumed it doens't apply to me. I think the signs are directing all commercial vehicles of at least 5000lbs empty weight to enter the weigh stations. Which is interesting, because what doesn't weigh at least 5000lbs empty? My pickup truck comes in at 5300lbs empty. I suppose we should all learn the laws for the states we live and trailer in.

LBrown59 · Sep 30, 2006

Boomerang1 said:
If something on your rig is out of service, you have to call road service to fix the problem before you can continue and most of the time you still get a fine.
The road service calls are very expensive because they know you are "up a creek without a paddle"

Deals like this are set ups to increase revenue for both.

RayH · Sep 30, 2006

How many of you actually have "commercial" vehicles? If you dont know the answer, you dont have one. If you dont drive a commercial vehicle, you dont need to worry about weigh stations.

Boomerang1 · Oct 2, 2006

RayH said:
How many of you actually have "commercial" vehicles? If you dont know the answer, you dont have one. If you dont drive a commercial vehicle, you dont need to worry about weigh stations.

Some states do require privite pickup trucks with trailers to stop at weigh stations. I am not sure of the states, but I have seen signs that say " All vehicles with trailers must weigh.

RayH · Oct 2, 2006

Boomerang1 said:
Some states do require privite pickup trucks with trailers to stop at weigh stations. I am not sure of the states, but I have seen signs that say " All vehicles with trailers must weigh.

It may be California you are thinking of. I think that in CA a pickup is registered as commercial, SO, being commerial, it must stop.

WHO MUST STOP at WEIGH STATIONS in CALIFORNIA?
California's "Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facilities" are commonly called weigh stations or truck scales. These facilities are operated by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), not by Caltrans. However, Caltrans receives many inquiries about weigh stations. This page is designed to answer some of those questions.

California Vehicle Code Section 2813 outlines who must stop at weigh stations and inspection stations:

2813. Every driver of a commercial vehicle shall stop and submit the vehicle to an inspection of the size, weight, equipment, and smoke emissions of the vehicle at any location where members of the California Highway Patrol are conducting tests and inspections of commercial vehicles and when signs are displayed requiring the stop. Every driver who fails or refuses to stop and submit the vehicle to an inspection when signs are displayed requiring that stop is guilty of a misdemeanor.

California Vehicle Code Section 260 defines "commercial vehicle" (bolding and underlining added):

260. (a) A "commercial vehicle" is a motor vehicle of a type required to be registered under this code used or maintained for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation, or profit or designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.
(b) Passenger vehicles which are not used for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation, or profit and housecars are not commercial vehicles. ...
(c) Any vanpool vehicle is not a commercial vehicle

Dirthog · Oct 2, 2006

I will have to look at the weigh station on I80 next time I go past and see what the sign says. I do know they run a weigh station safety check at the rest area not to far from here and there sign says All trucks when they have it open nothing about commerical and they do stop ton trucks etc.

bx23barry · Oct 2, 2006

RayH said:
It may be California you are thinking of. I think that in CA a pickup is registered as commercial, SO, being commerial, it must stop.

WHO MUST STOP at WEIGH STATIONS in CALIFORNIA?
California's "Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facilities" are commonly called weigh stations or truck scales. These facilities are operated by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), not by Caltrans. However, Caltrans receives many inquiries about weigh stations. This page is designed to answer some of those questions.

California Vehicle Code Section 2813 outlines who must stop at weigh stations and inspection stations:

2813. Every driver of a commercial vehicle shall stop and submit the vehicle to an inspection of the size, weight, equipment, and smoke emissions of the vehicle at any location where members of the California Highway Patrol are conducting tests and inspections of commercial vehicles and when signs are displayed requiring the stop. Every driver who fails or refuses to stop and submit the vehicle to an inspection when signs are displayed requiring that stop is guilty of a misdemeanor.

California Vehicle Code Section 260 defines "commercial vehicle" (bolding and underlining added):

260. (a) A "commercial vehicle" is a motor vehicle of a type required to be registered under this code used or maintained for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation, or profit or designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.
(b) Passenger vehicles which are not used for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation, or profit and housecars are not commercial vehicles. ...
(c) Any vanpool vehicle is not a commercial vehicle

While pickups are licenced commerical (if you ever want to haul anything in the bed) in Calif. Pickups do not need to stop at the scales (they have a "no pickups" sign at the scales). So a 1/2 ton with a pickup bed (I don't know about that 5 ton Navistar pickup) (trailer under 10'000#) doesn't have to stop but if you put a flat or dump bed on your 1/2 ton you will have to stop. At least that is my understanding. Welcome to the golden state.