How does the DOT determine who gets pulled over for a weigh?

Well...I'm not a "trucker" per se, so it's unlikely I'll join y'all at that counter....lol

I just happen to think RAWZE's mention of the thermal scanner makes a lot of sense. They use that at border crossings (I criss-cross the US/CDN border a few times). They use that to check containers.

As a shop owner, I use various tools to diagnose potential problems, and this make sense to me (and no I'm not a mechanic either) I just prefer to expedite my diagnosis and bill accordingly ($80/hr) and focus on the problem, with empirical evidence, not "gut feel"

 

Lots of scale houses have a set of scales you drive over on the scale exit ramp. These aren't super accurate but can get close enough for them to take another look on the main scale. Lots of times you'll get a bypass if you aren't near max weight on the in-road scales.

In these Super Coops, most have already ran your DOT number and/or tags, know your, length, width, and height, know your hub temp, and a good estimate of your weight, before your ever get to the main scales.

While the thermal scanner can alert them to a bad bearing or grabbing brake making too much heat, it can also show brakes bad out of adjustment or not working properly by noticing it being cooler than normal.

 

Sometimes it's just random. You've got lazy scale personnel just like in every other job. I'm sure the supervisors like to see so many trucks across the scale in a shift. All they are doing is filling their "quota" for the day.

I've been pulled on the scales before and look inside the scale house and see several officers in there just goofing off and paying no attention to the truck on the scale. Somebody will finally see you sitting there and reach over and hit the green light button.

 

I was wondering the same thing.

 

They prey on the dimwits who are easy pickings.

 

The pre -pass has a coil in it that pings off of your tinfoil hat and reads your 'Oh, God, blink green' thought. When it sees that, it turns red. Immediately spiting you.

It's DOT Telepathy. Rabble, rabble, rabble, rabble - all these new-fangled technologies ruining the industry. Lol.

 

Lol. I was only ever pulled into the coop twice. Once on I-49 in Missouri, I was driving a new tr7ck with temp tags. I was empty. Officer said he wanted to make sure the truck wasn't stolen. Wife was with me. Made me bring in both of our ids, I guess to check for warrants. Left with no issue.

The other time I was overweight on due, ultimately a stupid mistake on my part. That didn't end well. Lol.

Oh and was held up on the scale by a DOT officer questioning every truck. It was about 4 years ago, where that DOT officer was shot in PA. Happen to roll through a few days later. They were stopping all trucks to question them to see if they saw anything. Again no issues.

 

If the only seat available is at the "lunch counter".....I get mine to go!!! Some of the crap being spewed at said counter makes me lose my appetite and there is always that one dude that can't take a hint!

 

Never sat at one. Always had the wife with me. Never wanted her to hear that garbage. Got enough of it on the cb.

 

There is always that one ex Navy seal Army Ranger CIA operative that weighs 500#s and hasn't tied his shoes in 10 years or showered in4 days that never goes in to scales or gets pulled over because they don't want him to make a phone call and have the Troopers job!! And to the OP it seems every state has different technology and sometimes it makes sense you're on the scale and sometimes you are thinking why am I in this line!