Weight station

I’d be surprised if they have that big bank of computer monitors and controls up at the window when it can all be run from a single desktop computer in the back office. They definitely don’t see or care about obvious defects like headlights or taillights out.

Anyone who goes through this particular scale enough times, especially at night, would tell you that they legitimately aren’t paying attention.

 

First off let's dispel a notion that simply is not 100% true. Over half of all CMV enforcement is now done roadside with it only being done at a scale house during special enforcement periods like the CVSA June thing. In some locations across the US, the scale master is NOT a certified police officer. It is VERY possible for a scale master to be DOT/CVSA certified and not be a cop only handling CMV enforcement.

Most of the time in the states that do pre-pass the scale master can see the pre-pass data as the truck goes under the interrogator prior to getting to the scale entrance. They can set these computers to pull in a specific carrier etc.

With few exceptions every trucker I have spoken to that got equipment tickets was stopped along the highway.

I too have watched scale masters work and can see the information available at their fingertips. The primary thing to consider here is all the states do this differently. Years ago the head of the Georgia DPS Truck enforcement would have a morning conference call with all 9 region commanders on who they were going to target. And YES they do target carriers.

 

Spot on @Moose1958 it is a whole different world compared to traditional law enforcement and varies widely from state to state.

 

^^^^ Yes, it is the world we live in....like it or not, it will become even more intrusive. I will retire in a few years and retreat to my "Compound" and holler things like "Get off my lawn!!!"

 

I was originally quoting someone who was talking about one specific scalehouse, on Hwy 2 in Eastern Nebraska. They have the weigh in motion turned off and every truck gets the red light on prepass. They are most definitely not paying attention at night. It’s the kind of thing that you’ll notice if you go through there often enough.

 

Since the DOT troopers now have computers THEY are, in theory, connected. Any inspection involves a computer and your inspection today will show the computer all of your recent inspections so anything obvious can easily be checked and not repaired prior violations can become E Z tickets since it shows in the computer before the trooper even starts his inspection.

As mentioned above most violations come from roadside inspections.

 

I understood the comment and I agree that in most situations the weighmaster is doing other tasks or simply half asleep! The point I was trying to make is some weigh masters sitting and looking at the scales is all they do. Over the last 30 years, CMV enforcement has changed a whole lot.

 

I look for a day to come when scales are fully automated. All tied to a central state-wide control center with maybe 2 people running all scales that are open 24/7. If they are set up like Florida there will be no further need for pre-pass. This frees up the actual DOT to be mobile. Let's not forget scales have two purposes. They are there to keep overweight CMVs off the highways AND a place to do inspections. Automated scales would work well for weight enforcement independent of inspections. I also see a day coming when a CMV can run under an interrogator that will cause the transponder on the truck to also give the HOS information from an ELD for display. Local drivers would be noted in the system.

The day is coming folks when drivers will have a probe stuck in their gazoo just to start the truck.

I'm so glad I am retired!

 

In Idaho, on the big roads, all of the weigh stations have pre-pass and weigh-in-motion. I was a little shocked to find out from a co-worker the mass amount of data they have when a truck goes by.
He stopped in one day to ask the officer a question regarding the data they collect for future knowledge...
The officer was cooperative and was able to print out about 3 pages of data on his rig, just based on that single pass he made over the load cell.
I'm telling you, it was downright scary...
There was all kinds of info regarding the truck, carrier, permits, trailers, weights, graphs, speed, driver photos, etc...
I was almost like the CIA was involved...