Over Weight When Fully Loaded

Better than getting stuck at a scale.

 

Why are you pulling 49,000# loads? My god, my company would #### a brick if I loaded that much!

I realize you pull food grade and those cheap SOB's want to load every available lbs, but most food grade companies run Casscadia's with small motors and 1 80 gal fuel tank.


On another note, I wouldn't worry about being 500# over on an axle. In 2 years, I have yet to get harassed pulling tanks being over axle. Every scale master just cares about gross. And a newer air ride trailer will sit higher then an older one.

 

I don't care if they are fine with it. They have to be legal with it.
That little piece of plastic in your wallet called a CDL is going to be worth a million dollars over your lifetime of usage. Are you willing willing to loose it to save some shipper a few dollars because they don't want to be legal?

Is it a hassle, sure. The reason it's a hassle is drivers will willingly break the law to let them save a few dollars. If they refuse to get it legal, refuse to pull the trailer. Prime is too large, and has too much to loose to force you to run illegal, if you put your foot down and make them take care of it.

Oh, and no need to use their scale, go to the nearest certified scale (cat, but not only) and get a copy of the weight. If it has to be fixed, you have proof when you take it back.

 

You'll never lose you license over weights.

 

Also, you turn the keys. You are responsible for the load. What do you think happens when you cross a scale and you are heavy? Prime will point to the line in the employee handbook that states something along the lines of "All loads must be legal, the driver is responsible for all overweight fines"
Now, that fine you just got, do you think the shipper will pay it?

No, go do your job and be willing to fight with a shipper that overloads you. Heck, if it happens every time the odds are they've had to deal with drivers refusing to run illegal before.

 

Very true.. now it was a reefer load but none the less shipper gave me bills I went out to truck to put in loaded call... Looked at weight it said 61k..... Looked at onboard scale and was like ain't no #### way.... Went back in asked them about it left with bills stating 38k

 

Basically, yes. Be polite, tell them how much over weight you are, and if they refuse to legal the load you should call your dispatcher. He would want to know the situation.
Sometimes in a situation like that it's better to let the office people snarl at each other.
You just stand there, all calm and cool. It's a lot easier on your blood pressure, too.
You're still new at this. Learning when to refuse a load is just part of the process. Hang in there.

 

Christ, that's halfway to a second load.