Sorry to ask so many questions but this has been something I have wondered about for a long time.
I know weigh stations are meant to check the paperwork and weight of trucks, but why are there so many of them?
When you go through them and if they discover that you are somehow overweight, what happens then?
How is it that some trucks have those sensors that let them ride on past and all the rest don't? It would seem to me that the larger companies would all have those so they could eliminate more down time.
Do the cops check all your paperwork when you stop at these scales? Or just the basics?
Thanks for the input. Us dummies need all the info we can get.

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The only thing better than two wheels is 18.

The reason that there are so many weigh stations is that they are a revenue producing function for the state. They may claim that it's strictly for safety reasons, but the primary purpose is dollars.

As for what happens if you are overweight, the answer can vary. If you are merely over on axle weights, they may aloow you to adjust the weight and go on your way. If you are over on gross, they may provide (sell) a permit that allows for an exemption, or they can require you to remove the weight and make the truck legal before traveling on.

Prepass systems (if the state uses them) are based on a number of factors, including frequency of overweights in the past, safety records, and a host of other things that dictate whether or not you are eligible for the program. Many companies simply don't qualify to use them.

As for what is checked, it can vary from the most minor glance at paperwork to a full blown inspection of the driver, paperwork, and vehicle. It depends on what your truck looks like, what you look like, your companies reputation, whether the scale officer fought with his wife that morning, and a bunch of other things. Bottom line, whenever you cross a scale, make sure that your stuff is together. If not, then you are at higher risk of being thoroughly inspected. And if they want to find something wrong, they will. Your best insurance is to have everything in order and legal and not draw any attention.

Thank you, that helps clear a few things up.

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The only thing better than two wheels is 18.

Reply to Gecko, dont be afraid to ask any question, thats what this forum is here for. Most of the posters here want to help people new to the industry or the not so new guy with a problem. Ask away

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LuvMyHubby
PROUD Mom of an enlisted man currently in Iraq
"The Truckers Report..helping newbies avoid the shams and scams, providing support for driver families and just a GREAT place to hang out,laugh and learn!"

Just don't get excited if you don't get an answer right away. Many of us drive full time and are not at the computer as often as we'd like. This is an extra and a hobby, not how I make my living. Gotta make biscuit money for the doggies....

One thing i've noticed since i have had a prepass in my truck is there are 2 sides to it a good and a bad....

Good:
I havent stopped at a scale in 3 weeks with a Red Light on my Prepass, and i primarly run east of I-35 (lol that narrows it down) and south of I-80 except in MI and NY, any way i have learned that if the state Speed Limit is 55 and before you get to that 1st sensor and speed plate in the road slow down to 55 and roll on through all 3 sensors they never pull you into the scale,
This inturn helps my Average i dont have to slow down for scales and inturn i dont have to draw in my coloring book very often

Bad
USX is bent on good log book records they are ainal about it thats 1 reason why i dont play with it as much as i used to, any way that Prepass has a serial number and is specifically assigned to your truck and the company audits log books all year long and they pull up the data from your prepass and check it against your log book.. thats the part i disagree with..
Lol 1 thing i have doen is i Switched my Prepass unit twice with other trucks on the yard so the data is so competely wrong i dont get bothered at all

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There are Old Truckers and there are Bold Truckers, But there are no Old Bold Truckers.

I found out that log books are easy to keep if you mark your city and odometer at each stop. I tend to stop every couple hours for a stretch and a pee, but that's just me. I also mark down when I hit a scale and at what time/mileage.
Scales will also pull you in for a permit (utah $9-CO $25), Arizona didn't pull me either time last trip.
If you are loading alot of freight get a weight scale before you go too far from where you loaded so if youa re over you can easily tturn around or call dispatch.
On another note you can be overweight (80K) if you are under weight on all your axles, you can also be tail heavy and tractor light, meaning they loaded wrong, sometimes shifting your traler axles or tractor axles can correct, but once you are 200 miles from the dock it's hard to get it corrected.

If you are asked to pull around back listen to what they ask to see. If they only ask for you log that is all you take in with you. Don't be dragging in all your paperwork, permits, etc. Listen to what the ask for, if they want something else they'll ask for it.

Always lock your tractor when unattended....none of their business what is in that tractor either (unless you are at a border crossing).

Sounds like somebody that has something to hide....

Nope, been out here since dirt, DOT gets what they ask for. Guess it depends on how you were trained. The say logs they get logs nothing else, while you take everything in and the search through all of if for the next 1/2 hour I walk in the look at my log and I'm in gone with 10 mins.

Depends on how you were trained.