its time the dot make the shippers have scales on their properties

I just noticed this thread and really don't want to read through 6 pages of posts so I don't know if someone else touched on it, so here's my thought.

Yes, it's kind of unrealistic for every shipper in the country to have a scale on-site, but, and here's my two cents worth. The DOT should give a little leeway when loading and having to leave to find a scale to weigh. There's been many a time where I loaded and had to go through a state scale to find the nearest CAT scale to weigh my load. I'm pretty good at eyeballing a load and getting it right (or close) before I leave, but one doesn't know with 100% certainly if all the axles are legal.

 

Every place I've loaded at, dropped or hooked at, I've been able to bring it back if need be. Where is this place that will not allow you to fix it?

 

I guess he may be worried about getting caught on the way to scale or on way back to get it fixed. Honestly how often do we really get stopped by that rolling DOT that wants to break out the portables.

 

I encountered something at work the other day that does two things, 1. it makes my job more difficult, 2. it REALLY REALLY pisses me off.
As stated before, we have a scale on site. We had a driver leave and then come back an hour and 30 minutes later 2000 pounds over gross. He's pissed at us and going on about our lift operators not knowing how to load the trucks.

How many reading this see where I'm going?

If you choose to NOT scale on our scales then I can honestly say I feel like we shouldn't have to reload or cut product when you come back. Why do I think that? Well lets start with the FREE SCALE ON THE PROPERTY available to use. Next how about the time you're wasting by ignoring the scale, including yours having to come back, mine having to find a lift operator to do the work and finally that of the driver whose load may be getting ignored while yours is being reworked or having product cut off it.

Now, we reworked and cut two cubes of product totaling about 3200 pounds off the trailer. This driver then BYPASSES our scale AGAIN on his way out. Now how many of you having found out you were over gross weight to start with would then ignore the scale on your way out and thus not double checking we got things fixed?

Everyone here can say what they want about how I feel but if we provide you the ability to quickly and easily find out if your weights are good BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE PROPERTY and you don't use it, I will not feel bad for the time you're wasting that you could be getting miles with. We were professional and I had a loader on the rework even before this guy had his trailer backed into the door.


Use the tools available to you. All of them. If you are unsure if a scale has a fee or something, then ask. I have drivers ask ALL THE TIME if our scale costs money to use or even if they are allowed to use it.

 

I agree this sounds like he took the dumb way out. However, I have several thoughts. 1) Did he know the scales were there ? 2) Had someone told him they were not available for outside trucks? 3) Did he know the procedure for getting weighed on your scales? I have pulled on company scales before, nobody could advise me on the procedure for getting weighed.
All of these have happened to me before. Sometimes loading for the first time at a facility a driver might not know all there is to know about the procedures to follow.
However, I agree he seems to have not taken the best course of action.

 

Most places I load or unload have a scale. When I roll in some where new or I go frequently first thing I ask after how are you is policy. What to do where to wait if my hours are close can I finish my break here etc. Not knowing isn't an excuse if you don't ask IMO. If the one you ask doesn't know ask around till you get your answer. Course it is easier to just be a jerk about the whole deal

 

All of those are why I posted what I did at the end. ASK. Our scale is a full truck scale that divides it up by axle group. We do tell anyone picking up they can scale if they choose but are not required to.

We can not MAKE you scale. We can not stop a driver from taking a load if it is over on an axle group or even over gross. If they tell us they want to run with it they get the bills, trailer sealed and can leave. There is a sign leading up to the outbound lanes showing which lanes can be used, the scale is clearly marked on there.

To drive my point home a little bit more, we had a driver tonight pull into our main lane, sign out and everything then ask if they could use the scale after seeing the weight on the bills. The weights were fine and we were perfectly okay with them doing it.

WE WANT TO HELP YOU. Honestly, we do not want drivers to hate coming to pick up from us.

 

Some places that have Scales won't accept their Scale weight.
In Order to Cut product they STILL require a CAT or other type of Certified Scale Ticket.

 

Yeah, but at least if you scale the first time on site, you know you are legal before you have to go to a CAT Scale that may be further away. Beats the heck out of coming back I would think!