Overweight Violations

Did you sign for the citation or did you have of those owners responsibilty forms which I've been writing about ?

 

"In the last several years before I "retired", I got an overweight ticket about every trip that I went out on. I got so many overweight tickets at a certain set of scales that the people that worked that scale and me got on first name basis. And not one "black mark" or points on my dmv or CSA, the company paid the fine and to this day, my dmv and my CSA are "clean"."

Especially since CSA 2010 didn't even start up until this past November, no reason anything would have hit your CSA stats or MVR..

That said, overweight is on the driver, period...

 

I keep hearing different stories hear in Cali, Is CSA 2010 in effect in Cali, or not ? Last time I heard from a local commercial cop and he said no.

 

I was told that effective Dec. 12, 2010 it was in every state, wonder if that is fact..

 

CSA 2010 is Federal (through FMCSA)...the Owners responsibility thing you are mentioning is only in CA with CA based companies (that is what one CHP Scale Cpt, at Truckee told me)..they don't even mention the "OR" to company drivers from other than CA companies.

 

No CSA points for the driver with a overweight. Just went through this with our safety dept. Because of the products and types of trailers we pull we are often over on a axle and had one driver get hit twice in one month for overweights and was getting highly concerened about his CSA points.

 

if they do an inspection on a CSA inspection form...then they have no choice but to turn the results in to CSA...but if no inspection form completed, no CSA involvement.

It is a small gray area they left to "the discretion of the officer"!

 

I carry the completed form sign by the company I drive for. It applies to only four items. Weight, Loading, Mechanical, and Registration. The form is only good in California and must be completed and signed by the company. My company signs for mechanical and registration only. Over weight and load securement are the responsibility of the driver.

 

CSA went back 36 months and applied every violation and not one "overweight violation" is on my record and I have had a "handful".

 

Tennessee writes two tickets for over weight. One to the driver and one to the carrier. I think that both should be paid by the driver. There is NO reason a driver should get an over weight ticket. All you need do is take your truck to the nearest CAT Scale if you think you are heavy. In fact, anything that is put on the truck that is over 40,000 pounds should probably be weighed in case you are heavy on your axles.