overwieght loads

Meaning you get stopped for being overweight and you want to know who's responsible? Your question is a bit vague.

 

Normally you would go back to the shipper and get them to fix the weight issue. If you drive then it becomes your responsibility.

 

Usually, the driver will be charged and fined. If he had permission from his employer to pull the load, the employer will pay the fine eventually.

We had overweight loads of molten aluminum that could not be corrected. I would phone my dispatcher and get permission to haul it. Once, I was escorted to a gravel pit by an Indiana DOT officer. After determining that my gross was overweight, he took me to the shoulder of the road and used his portable scales. I gave the ticket to my terminal manager. A month later, I received a registered letter telling me to either pay the
$190.00 fine or a warrant would be issued for my arrest. Matlack was a bit slow paying their fines.

 

they really like to pack it in close to the limit too. i have had a few at around 79900, under gross so shipper wont take any back, but also just couldnt get it legal to drive. ended up having to get feul every 150 miles to keep it under 34k on the drives

 

Now that CSA 2010 is alive to me it's take it back and they can either fix the load, totally unload it or my carrier can find some other sucker to haul it... not my problem.

It used to be, before CSA 2010 that the carrier would offer to pay the fine if you got caught and that was cool... no points, non moving violation, no big deal. Now, I'm not going to risk getting the points just b/c someone else is stupid, lazy or just greedy.

 

Yes some places will let you bring it back I'm sure. Other places I'm sure have a different policy. I mean if the load ended up being heavier than they originally thought would be different than if you told them where to put it and you screwed it up. A real busy place might be less forgiving and tell you it's your baby.

 

I wouldn't trust some farmer's (?) scale or even some some shippers scales. They might not have been certified in years and if I get nailed at the coops, I pay.

I do watch what is going on my truck and if I can tell how much each pallet weighs, I'll do the math. If I'm going to be close, my first order of business it to head for a decent certified scale to axle that puppy out.

If I can't axle it out or if it is overgross, it goes back to the shipper, ASAP. Some shippers are cunning and routinely try to overload the trucks because it saves them money. On rare occasions, if my company tells me to run with it and agrees to take the risk, I'll do so.

There have been a few times that I've loaded at places where they will not adjust the load as a matter of policy. Some drop/hook brewery load come to mind and I think the policy is dumb. But in those instances, my choice is clear, run it and risk it or turn down the load. Depends on the destination, but a few times I've taken the load and played games with fuel... Not real smart, huh?