Why do you slow down approaching a scale?

I have to put on my pants, turn off my music, lock my door, buckle my seat belt, hide my bird dog, hide my scanner, hang up my phone and roll down my window to hide the tint. All that takes a while.

 

If its a weigh in motion with a posted speed, I usually do exactly that speed and get bypassed. Its worked a couple times when I was overweight too, but I was sweating

 

not only do i slow down approaching a scale on the hwy(unless i know for a fact it is closed) ,I ALWAYS STOP,just like the sign says to do,before i proceed over the scale.THAT has paid huge dividends over the years as it enables the scale operator to see me,my numbers,and my weight.yeah i have been over axle several times. heck i even roll down the drivers window and turn off the cb radio just in case as old habits are so difficult to break. oh yeah,i also turn my headlights off rolling thru but that may be a thing of the past as another driver posted.

i have had the dot try to open my locked door,as they stand out by the scales, many times.have not been asked why it is locked but i am sure i will be asked eventually.

 

This is my 4th week OTR and have a few scale questions, if you don't mind.

The sign says "Pre-Pass, follow in cab something" (I forget the wording - sign's point is to do what your Pre-Pass says). Then, after a W-I-M thing, the sign tells me I must pull in. So, what do I do? I just went in, but dang that was some confusing signage.

What's the thermal camera for?

 

i do not have prepass so i will not speculate but the thermal camera is probably for the heat that comes off the brakes of the truck and trailer.more heat=good brakes; less heat=you'll probably get checked over is the way it was explained to me.we will see w/the other replies.

i am interested to read how the pre pass thingy actually works.

welcome to trucking FD

 

Yes, but if the scale has the prepass turned off neither light works and you still go into the scale.

 

Your little green light.

 

If the scale is open follow what the prepass says. So if the prepass gives you the green light you do not stop at the scale even if it says to stop at the scale. It even says this in the prepass manual you get with the device.

The only time you do not listen to your prepass is when it tells you to stop at the scale but the scale is closed.

The thermal camera's are to check your brakes. More importantly to check the variations in your brakes. IE if you have 3 hot brakes on the tractor and one cold one. That tells them you have a bad brake.