Deducting $500 out of my check for not sending in light scale

Yes they can.
It's time to weigh your options.

 

If you are an employee then it depends on the employment regulations in your state. Otherwise it depends on the terms of your contract with whoever is paying you.

When asked for empty and loaded weights it often means the rate is based on weight. The shipper may not care about the scale ticket but the party that is billing the shipper may need it.

Get the WeighMyTruck app and use it. You'll at least have an official email from CATScale if you need it later. And stop letting warehouse shipping clerks tell you what your job is.

 

It's sucks but almost certainly in the pile of papers you signed when you got hired is a notice that says they will bill you if you don't follow that rule. Use the CAT Scale phone app and it emails a copy of the weigh ticket to your designated email address. The app is free.

 

Maybe the shipper slyly catches a break in the rate when the empty weight is MIA, pffffft...

"NAAAH, WE DON'T NEED IT!!!"

And then, sotto voce:

"But YOU do..."

And the $500 they save is taken out of the driver's check...

Back in the day, one incident like that would have had me drop-kickin' the truckin' outfit like I was starrin' in the NFL...

 

It does depend on the state and what you've signed, but for most part they cannot legally do that if you are an employee. They can fire you, but can't fine you.

That said, good luck getting that money back. There is a reason reported wage thefts are by far the largest property crime in the US. It will cost you more than $500 to get a lawyer and win in court, so many victory would be phyric.

The lesson is that if you're told "do xxx or it will cost you $$$", do xxx.

 

And with the CAT scale app, even if you delete the e-mail the app keeps a history.

It is one of the few apps I use, and one of the most useful.

 

Are you employee or 1099?

I would tell them if you take $500 from me I will quit and it would cost you a lot more than that afterwards having an empty truck.

 

I’d find me a new job.

 

That is the thing.
If you accept a load you are basically signing a contract to the terms provided.
When you accepted that load you agreed to pay $500 if you did not send them your light and heavy scale tickets within that 2 day margin.

There is nothing sinister about it, since they told you up front.