Weighing in?

[powerstroke444e]

I have found that they will come out of the scale house and let you know if you should have stopped, in IL. As for the portable scales if they don't flag you in don't stop. (only applies if drive a pickup not a big truck).

 

[KrisNMo]

LOL!

Years ago when I moved back from California to Illinois I was driving a 24' Uhaul with a car hauler on the back loaded. Went the southern route through Oklahoma to get as far south of the snow as I could. I thought I was following the rules posted as I went by the scales and in Arizona I was told I was not commercial so I didn't have to stop so I figured the same in Oklahoma. Drove right on by the scales in Oklahoma and soon found out I am indeed suppose to stop! Got chased down by the DOT and was sternly explained I WILL need to stop at the next scale "BOY!" I said yes sir and he let me go without a ticket. Now I suppose it's changed, this was probably 19 years ago.

 

[rutwad]

I've wondered the same thing before. Is it for commercial vehicles only, DOT stickered trucks only, over 26k lbs only, or what? What if you are driving a 3/4 ton truck pulling a tandem dual 20k gooseneck? Would it make a difference if you are hauling your own equipment and running a "FARM" tag?

And if you do have to stop, in what ways can they determine that you are overweight? Do they go strictly by the # of axles, the GCWR or the truck, the GVWR of the trailer, or all? I guess the weight ratings are specified by manufactures, but does the DOT use these to see if a truck is overweight?

 

[Diamondpilot]

I've wondered the same thing before. Is it for commercial vehicles only, DOT stickered trucks only, over 26k lbs only, or what? What if you are driving a 3/4 ton truck pulling a tandem dual 20k gooseneck? Would it make a difference if you are hauling your own equipment and running a "FARM" tag?

And if you do have to stop, in what ways can they determine that you are overweight? Do they go strictly by the # of axles, the GCWR or the truck, the GVWR of the trailer, or all? I guess the weight ratings are specified by manufactures, but does the DOT use these to see if a truck is overweight?

First clue to even be looking at a rig like that is a 20K trailer behind a 3/4 ton. That is in the F-450 class. Most 3/4 tons have about a 16K max tow rating on the 5th wheel and maybe less depending on gearing, options, ect. To check it all they need to do is first weigh the truck to make sure its weight is not over the max GVWR, on my F-250 this is 10,000# That weight will include the weight of the pin load from the trailer. Next they weigh just the trailers axles to make sure it does not exceed the GVWR of the trailer, lets say its a 14K trailer. If that is all ok the last thing they will do is add these weights together, lets say the truck was at 9,500# and the trailer was at 12,500# and that will give them the GCWR and as long as that does not exceed your trucks limits you are legal. In the example give 9,500+12,500=22,000# and my F-250 has a max GCWR of 23,000# so all would be fine and legal.

In Indiana it is illegal to pull a trailer with a GVWR higher than the tow rating, even empty. So for example a 20K trailer may weigh 7K empty so even though that is well within my F-250 or my F-350's tow ratings it is illegal to pull it because it exceeds the 16,300# or so tow limit.

Chris

 

[JIGBUILDER]

And if you do have to stop, in what ways can they determine that you are overweight? Do they go strictly by the # of axles, the GCWR or the truck, the GVWR of the trailer, or all? I guess the weight ratings are specified by manufactures, but does the DOT use these to see if a truck is overweight?

The trailer has a 16k GVWR and your 3500 drw truck is registered at 12000 GVWR. That makes 28k combined. If your commercial you purchase a 28k combined plates or tag. Dot can ticket you for being over 28k.

Dot will nail you for being over the trucks front or rear GAWR's. Example is the 3500 DRW Dodge with its 9350 RAWR. Thats why 3500 DRW trucks with theose big RAWR numbers are popular with "legal" commercial haulers.

In OK we can register a 3500 DRW truck for 15k for combined plates only. BUT the trucks RAWR are still used when weighing. If I'm not mistaken TX can register their trucks for what ever GVWR the operator want to purchase but again the trucks axle rating will come to play. Thats why we see many 3500 DRW trucks with a dot showing 30000-35000 lb on the door.

I would check with your state dot as to how they use GVWR/GAWR/tire caps when weighing a combined load. Even if your not commercial.

TX dot with portable scales nailed me in Lubbock for being over on the trucks rear axle numbers. I had a 36' GN with wheeled equipment and was allowed to move some weight off the trucks rear axle and not go over the trailers axle numbers. The sum of the trailers axle rating = the trailers GVWR.

In my post above I mentioned ODOT doesn't operate Oklahoma's scale houses. There all Oklahoma Corp Commission boys. Most of the time they green light a pickup of any size across the scale and do a paper work only. DOT isn't even involved with the scale house. BUT by ding dot field officers is very busy with road side weight/paper work checks/etc just about anywhere. Interstates or county roads.

 

[rutwad]

This is causing alot of grief for farmers and such. I think Alabama passed some sort of farm exemption, but in my brief search I was not able to find anything about it.

Certainly the auto makers are quite conservative in their GCWR, but how do they come up with this figure?

Too bad they just don't stick with the big boys. They are forcing some people to overload because of these restrictions.

I talked to someone here in AL that was driving a Dodge 3/4 ton truck and pulling a 14k trailer. He was not able to get a CDL for medical reasons so he went with the lighter weight truck trailer, yet he was hauling an CTL and mulching head which was probably around 12k.

 

[em14]

Rutwad - Ala no longer has the exemption ... That ended several months ago ... They are using a lot of portable scales and have built several road side turn outs to pull trucks over! This is true in Central and Eastern Ala. I know. Where I have a farm! I have a 3500 and a couple trailers so I have found a place to safely, I hope, leave my 6420 (12K with FEL) ... by the way GA seems to be really watching for the DOT Number on the truck and making stops of rigs!
Leo

 

[rutwad]

em14, I did not know it ended. I don't tow so it doesn't affect me, but it still sucks!!!

 

[Harold_J]

...Most 3/4 tons have about a 16K max tow rating on the 5th wheel and maybe less depending on gearing, options, ect...

If the GCWR depends on things like gearing, options, engine size, etc, do the enforcement people actually check or care about this when doing a weighing? Most pickups don't have a tag on them saying what the max combination weight is. Are they really going to be concerned if you have a 3.7 rear end vs a 4.1, or gas versus diesel?

 

[Diamondpilot]

If the GCWR depends on things like gearing, options, engine size, etc, do the enforcement people actually check or care about this when doing a weighing? Most pickups don't have a tag on them saying what the max combination weight is. Are they really going to be concerned if you have a 3.7 rear end vs a 4.1, or gas versus diesel?

They can find out real easy. Type your VIN# in Google some time and see what it comes up with. They have the info and will and can find out all they need to know if you give them a reason too. I have been lucky this far and never been checked.

Chris