Why do you slow down approaching a scale?

I would think a thermal camera could be used for either brakes or tires. It would alert the mounties as to there being a problem with one or the other.

I have a Non-Contact Craftsman Infrared thermometer that I use to check tires when I was loaded. I found a pair of drive tires running 15 degrees hotter than the rest and there was a periodic vibration in the cab that I thought was connected to that, but it turned out to be an out of balance drive shaft causing the vibration. Never did figure out what the extra tire heat was from, but I sure thought it was going to an alignment problem but it was apparently was not.

 

My first scale experience: coming back from TX in the middle of the night or very early morning(i think it was somewhere in AR) , i see signs that i am approaching a scale. At first i just slow down, than i see some kind of flashing lights(which i thought meant that scale is open), i completely stop just before entrance of the scale, pull the brakes in the middle of the interstate and proceed to wake up my co-driver to ask him what should i do.
Apparently, scale was closed and flashing lights were either from some kind of local airport or me just imagining. I was lucky enough that no semis were following me within at least a minute distance or it could have ended up very ugly.

 

had that happen to me on the Calhoun scale northbound 15 in cali. 9 p.m. just as I came up to the sign. it changed to open. me and truck behind me. and apparently back to close cuz everyone after continued on down the road. BUTTWIPE scale.

 

You gota read what the sign says. there are a few scales out there that acualy tell you to bypass the scale if lights are flashing.

 

would they be slowing down to pull in ?

 

Coast in using very little brakes. Don't want to be a dead giveaway you have one out of adjustment and or all heated up.

 

And all this time I thought if I closed my eyes goin by and couldn't see them, then they couldn't see me!

 

used to be, Some times if there is a Pack of Trucks behind me and I know the scale is up ahead I let a bunch pass me. That way they are busy working on the info for all the trucks that they just got slammed with or maybe the ramp will be to full. any more though. I just don't care.