driver trainers, going into prepass scale with a green light

Scales should be a no-brainer. Almost all of the scales have signs with instructions as you enter. Most of the time they are white signs with black letters. They will say such things as 'Maintain 35MPH over scales', 'Maintain 100 ft spacing', 'Roll window down and turn off radios', 'Do not set brakes on scale', 'Turn lights on', 'Turn off headlights', etc. READ the signs and OBEY them. 'Maintain 35MPH' does NOT mean slow down to 15MPH (pet peeve). And follow the directional arrow signs. Don't slow down if they're dark; just head for the bypass lane at the posted speed. If they want to divert you to the main scale, they'll flip the arrows in time for you to make the change.

 

i never went thru a scale until I was on my own, I didn't miss out on much.. Not a big deal, just read the signs. I did , however , go in on a green when I first started on my own (noob sign confusion, the "all trucks must enter" thing, lol). They didn't give me the left bypass arrow, they must have figured if this idiot wants to go thru the scale for no reason, we'll give his dumb ### a full stop weigh-in and take a closer look

 

I think you are correct to take him through scales. In Ms the scales say 10mph then have a stop sign and then the real instruction is on the electronic board and it usually says go ahead. About half the drivers cant seem to read the go ahead or the 10 mph signs. In Tn some scales went down to 15 MPH at the beginning of the ramp. I guess that is safety in action. In AR you have lights and arrows and different speed limits. When their lights are out you have to make a decision. (they don't get tickets) Also how do you teach the bypass when ramp is full. He should at least be used to them to go on his own.

 

I pull a flatbed and I get red lighted into the AG stations all the time. Even empty they always ask me what I am hauling. Sailboat fuel.

 

Brains are in short supply. Must be the zombies.

 

When I was a CDL instructor I would run a student into a closed scale, that way you can take your time and explain what to do. You can even pull around back ad bring him around again and split the axles. Always was an enlightening expierance for the student.

 

When I was training, we were told not to pull into the Anthony, NM port of entry. Apparently it annoyed them lol.

 

I just don't see the point.. going through scales is really no big deal.. what they need to know is how to handle and what to do if they get an inspection.. make sue they know how to do that... do they know how to pull their logs from the qualcomm, do a break test.. that is the big one.. most dont do a break test after their CDL test and forget how to do one..
But the actual going through the scales is not necessary unless you do have a lot of time to wasted off your 14/70
When I was out with my trainers we didnt have the time for that.. so we went over things during our 10 breaks .. what your students need most is being in traffic, driving in the bad weather and rush hours..
I spoke to a young guh the other day.. whan he was traini g he trainer drove during the busy times and bad weather and he drove at night and good weather.. now he is out on his own in bad weather needing to get through morning rush hour to make his appointments and is getting frustrated.

I was lucky, my trainers had me driving during the busy times and bad weather, they drove when it was clear skies and open road.. but, they were there in the passenger seat to guide me...

Driving through the scales is easier than navigating to and through the scales at many truck stops, which I am sure uou are having your student do and showing them how to adjust their tandems.