Weigh stations

[mikehaugen]

Do they keep some sort of database with all tow vehicles' tow ratings on them or what? My door sticker has GVWR, but says nothing about towing. I had to look in my manual to find out, and even then you need info that would not be obvious to a DOT worker, so how do they know if you are in compliance? It should be pretty obvious that you are not exceeding the 80,000 weight limit for the road.

 

[Soundguy]

All of the weigh stations in Nova Scotia now have sensors in the road leading up to them. All trucks must use the right lane, drive over the road sensor and depending on the weight a large sign will either show "Truck, report to scale" or "Truck, bypass scale". This works great, and it cuts back on traffic at the scale. I'm not even sure if I am required to enter the scale with farm plates, but I go in if the sign tells me too.

i have seen prescale places too. for the heck of it i was in the truck lane near a scale and got the bypass scale sign too in my 450 and gn trailer.

 

[Looking4new]

Do they keep some sort of database with all tow vehicles' tow ratings on them or what? My door sticker has GVWR, but says nothing about towing. I had to look in my manual to find out, and even then you need info that would not be obvious to a DOT worker, so how do they know if you are in compliance? It should be pretty obvious that you are not exceeding the 80,000 weight limit for the road.

In Ontario the GVWR is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating = The total weight that your truck + trailer + load weighs. The DoT are almost smart enough to know from experience how much you can haul and one look at the door sticker and you having already been on the scales is all they need to bust you. Especially if your license plate is not paid for that weight. ie:hauling 8,000 lbs with a pickup and trailer that is only licensed for 5,000 lbs. and the GVWR tag on the door says the GVWR is only 5,500 lbs.

 

[Looking4new]

i have seen prescale places too. for the heck of it i was in the truck lane near a scale and got the bypass scale sign too in my 450 and gn trailer.

Michigan has weigh in motion scales embedded in the highway and you run through the coop at 30 mph. Not 29 and not 31. They are extremely fussy about it. Usually it is a Canadian truck from Ontario that will mess up the works and end up 'around back'. In Ontario the weigh in motion wiring is in the scale lane at the scale and they expect you to stop before the scale and then on the scale and wait for the green light, for each axle or group of axles. There is where the confusion is for Ontario drivers that have never crossed Michigan scales before. I learned the easy way, I asked on the CB before I got to the scales.

 

[mikehaugen]

GVWR is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating = The total weight that your truck + trailer + load weighs. The DoT are almost smart enough to know from experience how much you can haul and one look at the door sticker and you having already been on the scales is all they need to bust you. Especially if your license plate is not paid for that weight. ie:hauling 8,000 lbs with a pickup and trailer that is only licensed for 5,000 lbs. and the GVWR tag on the door says the GVWR is only 5,500 lbs.

GVWR as I know it only includes the vehicle itself. Mine is 8800 on a ram 2500, that doesn't leave me much to tow. GCVWR is what I understand to include trailer. That info is not on the door sticker.

 

[Looking4new]

GVWR as I know it only includes the vehicle itself. Mine is 8800 on a ram 2500, that doesn't leave me much to tow. GCVWR is what I understand to include trailer. That info is not on the door sticker.

Mike, can you check with ILDoT on that? I could probably do it from here, but you know the terminology down there better than I. I don't mind giving out public information, but I want it to be accurate.

 

[MattLynch]

They aren't really concerned about gross weight here, more just weight per axle as that is what damages roads. There are also spring weight restrictions in which the allowed weight per axle is drastically reduced and heavy trucks can only travel on certain roads due to the frost coming out of the ground.

 

[Looking4new]

Here it is called 'half load' season.

 

[Looking4new]

They aren't really concerned about gross weight here, more just weight per axle as that is what damages roads. There are also spring weight restrictions in which the allowed weight per axle is drastically reduced and heavy trucks can only travel on certain roads due to the frost coming out of the ground.

You do license your truck for a 'gross weight' though, don't you?

 

[MattLynch]

I don't think so, a farm registration is the same for all farm trucks, same $12 anyway. I do register my trailer by weight though, that's expensive!