Driver responsible for Ticket?

The DRIVER is the one who pays the ticket!

 

Well, if he could get to a public scale to "get right" before he got to a state scale, it's his fault. Also in my opinion, if he let a shipper load it way "off balance" to front or rear, whether or not he could get to a public scale, its his fault. When there is any doubt in my mind, I go around state scales till it can be weighed and gotten right.

Dave

 

Depends on "who" the ticket was made out to. If it is the drivers name on the ticket then it is the drivers responsibility (technically).

Remember though the driver is acting as "your" agent and is working for "you." It may be worthwhile to consider paying the fine (in order to make sure it is in fact paid 'on time') yourself especially if the overweight ticket was issued in VA.

In VA the carriers operating authority is routinely suspended when an overweight fine is not paid in a timely manner. This means the next driver for your company that crosses their scales will be red flagged and shut down until the fine is paid AND the operating authority is reinstated through paying another fee.

You could even deduct the fine amount from the employees pay in small increments so it does not devastate the driver entirely.

Its important to try to teach a driver to scale questionable loads without dropping the hammer on him so hard that he gets ticked off and retaliates through selling the company fuel, tires, binders, load locks, etc to recoup his "loss" from the fine.

Of course you could also pay the fine yourself and "let it slide" one time with a stern warning to the driver. This may cause the driver to feel gratitude and in turn he will repay your "kindness and generosity" with loyalty, continued good service, and even stepping up to do "extra" work when needed. A little good will can go a long way if administered correctly.

 

Most companies speaking in experience wise, if you scaled out the load, and called in with the problem not able to make legal, then the company paid it. If the Driver failed to do so, then he, the Driver had to pay the ticket.

 

No matter what, it is the drivers responsibiity to scale out a load before departing the area of the shipper. If it needs to be redone, staying close gets it fixed, plus most shippers will ask for a certified scale ticket to justify reworking the load.
In any case driver needs to do his/her work before heading out to deliver.

 

Was he over gross or over axle? Over axle, that falls on the driver. Over gross, that could go either way. We have gone after customers who say loaded 50,000 lbs on a load that stated 40,000 lbs on bol.

But all in all, it normally will fall in the drivers lap, at least from my experience. If it is over 30,000 lbs on the bol, scale it! Drivers responsibility, I ain't a baby sitting service. I had one driver let an idiot load 40,000 lbs right in the nose of the trailer. The driver paid that one, and for the forklift and driver. That was just stupid, and there was no way I was eating that one. Especially since I had scales on the truck and trailer.

Mike

 

Every company I ever worked for paid the ticket if I was over GROSS. (I always scaled it out, if I was told to run it they paid..) On the other hand IF I was over axle and UNDER gross that is plain old driver responcibility to ensure the trailer is loaded right.. ONLY if the trailer was preloaded and sealed would I be held not responcible. .. I would have to do everything to try and get it legal.. and is I couldn't then the company would pay.. Usually I went back and had the load readjusted.. Even if it ment loosing a day or paying for the load shift..

 

There are many variables here . Some shippers don't have scales at their location and will intentionally load more than the BOL states . If scales are available and the driver knows he is over it is his responsibility . Some loads , especially hopper bottom can scale out o.k. on the axles but have the load shift forward from braking putting the drive axle over . The driver could also be considered responsible in this case . The weight of fuel if fueling after loading also has to be taken into consideration . I have never paid an overweight fine . The fines were paid by the carrier or shipper .

 

Did you ask him to run overweight? Were you aware he was over?