To Scale or NOT To Scale..That is the question?.

............. you know this from personal experience???

 

I scaled mine once when I first started driving it. Loaded 45k even pallets to the back door. Looked at my ticket and where I had the tandems. Now I know were to set them if it is loaded the same all the way back. But it helps to have a light tractor/ trailer combo as most shippers won't load me close to gross anyway.

 

Wouldn't he need to have actually scaled a load?

 

No, I have some if he wants to read them. I am sure he could ask someone local.

 

Last month I had to re-power or swap load out in texas. gross was at 83k. 2 prvs drivers that had the load never scaled with opportunity in alabama and missisippi. now i know the scales w/bound on I20 east of DFW are hardly ever open...i still ran the back roads in and sweated major bullets the whole way!!! $9.00 brings alot of peace!! SCALE IT!!!

 

If there's a scale at the shipper, I might weigh it just for s***'s and giggles. Other than that... nope!

It don't take a rocket scientist to set the axle under the rear of the load.

 

Come on now, if I had you on the phone I'd be giving you heck right now

Pulling a legal load by the letter of the law and running it legally by the same standards are only separated by likelihood of getting caught... now you're being arbitrary or splitting hairs.

It's legal if the scales agree it's legal, even with them its arbitrary. $700 to me is unacceptable, and you only have a small percentage of loads that you would even consider scaling to be sure. Try it with 100% of your loads being at 80k or so and the financial disposition changes drastically. You're looking at 5 times that amount to not be wrong 1% of the time (my experience) and even that load was legal or acceptable everywhere else. Most DOT understand the nature of the difficulty of scaling a bulk load that shifts in transit. You can be right at the scale, pay your $9, stop short behind a car that stops short and get an axle ticket at the next scalehouse. It really is pointless.

Being financially irresponsible to me is worse than getting an axle weight misjudged on a rare occasion.


Now I'm going to use a smiley so you know I'm not mad at ya lol But I do disagree...

 

I do have my gage in the cab to get an Idea if I am close but If I am and I know that there is a chance to cross a State Scale, I pay the 9 bucks!

 

We have air gauges in dash also. I rarely scale unless I judge it to be too close to call. I've scaled once this year. Been nailed twice.

Our CORE product, is paper roll stock.

Once I knew I was over on the tandems, but was trying to maintain bridge..

The other time I was unaware the %$## thing was loaded to the doors with a "light" load, and the heaviest product on the arse (pre-loaded and sealed at shipper). I slid it up short. No way you're going to be over axle with only 24k in the box, right?

I was allowed to slide both times. No fine in LA or MO.

 

You are responsible for your own load. It is up to you on the chances you choose to take. You my friend are a risk taker.
Most of the $700 dollars we spent last year was spent by Pete. He hauled more brokered loads that were heavy. Also. his truck is heavier than mine.
This whole debate comes down to two things in my opinion.
1. Experience. An experienced driver should have a good understanding of his load. Most experienced drivers can make an educated decision to scale a load or not.
2. A driver can use your theory. It is more cost effective to take your chances and play the odds on getting caught or not.
I do agree that your line of work is far different than mine. You are always heavy. I would probably take more chances if I was in your line of work. I would also probably take less chances than you do.
There is my 2 cents worth. Life is about choices. You choose to save the $9 and take a chance. Your choice. As always I wish you well.