Got an overweight ticket pulling for Amazon Relay

Looking for advice here, picked up a preloaded trailer from an Amazon facility in Hazelton PA going to Baltimore.

Bol stated load was 37,340 lbs so I knew I was going to be overweight. I wasn't worried because it was well after midnight and there is never any scales open that early. Coming into MD on I-83, surprise the scale was open.

Got a nice $2800 fine for being 73,860 lbs gross. Running a single axle Volvo registered at 54,000 lbs meant I was 19,860 lbs over registered weight.

I knew when I saw the Bol that I was going to be over the registered weight, but I didn't think I would be over 65,000 lbs, the maximum weight you are allowed to register this truck for. If I had known this load was that heavy I would have refused it.

I have never weighed the truck by itself or with an empty trailer but the sticker on the visor says 13,880 lbs which I figured was a dry weight, but the Cat scale said 15,500 lbs for just the tractor full of fuel and DEF.
Tractor and empty trailer together was 30,540 lbs on the same scale also with full tanks. So apparently the Bol was off by at least 6000 lbs.

My company also wants me to plead guilty with an explanation and go to court. They are hoping the judge will reduce the amount of the fine.

I was wondering if their is any recourse with Amazon since the BOl weight was incorrect by more than 6,000 lbs? I am also wondering if anyone has ever had any luck going to court for an overweight ticket and had the fine reduced?

I am not in trouble of any kind with my company as we knew there was a chance that this would happen, but I am not very eager to go in front of the judge and try to explain what happened even with an incorrect weight on the BOL. I knew this load was going to be overweight but I didn't think it was that much overweight. I feel like I would be telling the judge "yes I knew I was speeding, I just didn't realize I was going that fast".

I am no lawyer, but that doesn't sound like a very good argument to me. Plus all 3 times I have been in front of a judge in my life my anxiety has gone through the roof and I turn into a blithering idiot.

So what do you think the chances are the judge reduces the fine, and does the incorrect BOL help me in anyway?

 

Yes, there was actually a small truck stop right at the exit off I-81 that had a Cat scale, definitely should of checked it but I didn't because I wasn't worried about any roadside scales being open.

Lesson learned, and now I know if my rear suspension reads above 80 psi to drop that trailer like it's hot!

 

Well I knew as soon as I looked at the BOL that this load was not going to be legal for me to move with the tractor I have, I just wasn't expecting it to be that much overweight, but now I know and I won't be doing that again.

It was a sealed load that came from a shipper in Hazelton going to a receiver in Chester, VA. So I am pretty sure there was no reworking the load, especially since it would have been fine with a tandem tractor.

I am not in any trouble with my company, we occasionally get overweight tickets because we never scale anything. I was just wondering if anyone has any experience going to court for them, and if an incorrect BOL weight will help me or not?

 

The tractor actually pulled the load like a champ, only had to tap the brakes once or twice coming down the long hills around Tower City. Exhaust brake was plenty strong enough to keep speeds in check and I watched my rear axle and transmission temps and they were perfectly fine. Temperature was in the 20's that night though.

I have been running single axle tractors for 20 years now, and this is the 1st overweight ticket I have ever gotten. And I don't avoid the scales. 99% of our loads are well under 54,000 lbs gross so single axle tractors save us a lot of money in tolls, tires, and tags.

So yes my company will pay the fine, I just don't really want to go to court. With my luck the judge will keep the fine the same and charge us court fees on top of that!