How The Big Hoods Use a CAT ScaLe

Yea wire fraud is federal time...

 

Snitches get stitches.

 

Be a man or a mouse but don't be a rat.

 

Pfft!

 

I'm 99% sure I've seen some with at least 4 plates.....a short one at the back of the trailer. I've never paid enough attention to notice that some only have three plates. I'll have to ask the Cat scale lady next week if I can split the weight on my tandems and see what she says.

 

CAT scales have only three scales. Steer, drive, and trailer. Any other divisions of the plates are expansion joints. Tridem, quad, or quint scales like any other truck/trailer: Steer, drive, trailer. You only care the proportions of weight if one (or two) axles in a set that are different then the rest. The spring equalizers or leveling valve will distribute weight evenly in a conventional axle set. If you have a drop axle [or two] in a set of axles you will weigh them separately to make sure you are not over axle. To do that you will tell the CAT scale master you are weighing a double set and position the truck so one set of axles is split between scales. Simple math will get you to figure the division of weight for each axle. However, you may have to get them to repeat hitting the doubles reweight switch several times to get each and every division of axles. And, CAT will not certify any doubles tickets so you are on your own when arguing with a weight cop.

 

HHG is so different than trucking. We deal with customers who are businesses mostly. They know what their rights are, and how to do business. And we can charge them whatever the market will bear, there are no set rates.

Not so with people who are moving. They are not professional shippers, and they don't know their rights. Therefore movers can not charge whatever they feel. They need to get approval for the rates they charge. The customer is allowed to choose which way they will be charged, weight or cubes. Once the contract has been signed, it is illegal for the mover to choose a different method of calculating the rate. They are also not allowed to hold the shipment hostage until they are paid more than what they have billed. The fly-by-night movers to this all the time.

 

Big bad hoods.

 

They probably go fast too.