Glad it worked out for you IROCUBabe!
One of the toughest things for newbies to learn out here is when to be shall we say "flexible(?)" when it comes to running a heavy load.
In some cases a shipper will not cut a load if it is heavy but rather will unload the whole truck and send you on your way with no load. This loses a paying load for your company and will put you on the fast track to being "eliminated." I have had loads of water from Poland Springs Maine and loads of salt from upstate New York that have been "heavy."
When I have informed dispatch of this (via the phone) I have been instructed to "run with it" and they would back me in the event of a ticket. I do not do this via computer as there is a record of the conversation and chances are no-one at work will stick his neck out or yours if there is a record of it. I have taken the initiative to "dodge scales" in route to avoid getting myself and the company in hot water. If a dispatcher backs me or a company steps up when I need help I reciprocate and "protect" my employer. This is called "Quid Pro Quo."
This attitude and philosophy has elevated me to the top tier of earners at 3 out of 4 companies I have worked at (the exception was Shaffer. A carrier that could not keep me moving more than 2400 miles per week for 7 days work. I left after 90 days with an exit review showing it was a poor match of company to driver). After having been a lease operator turning 3500 to 4200 miles per week every week it was a major shock and I could not keep up with my debts so I moved on to my current carrier.
Run with overweight load???
Discussion in 'Trucker Legal Advice' started by IROCUBabe, Apr 11, 2008.
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I personally have no issue with the whole running heavy thing, my husband was freaking about it, was refusing to run... he's kinda a goody two shoes scaredy cat. When I suggested we just avoid the scales by taking the backroads he about had a conipshon(sp?) fit. Like dude... its going the same darn way...
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500 pounds or so could just be scale tolerance. The thing I would be worried about is axle weights. I would hate to have to move that load around in order to get it legal.
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not too long ago i had this truck come in that was about 1000 # overweight i think on his drives, it took the shipper 5 times of shifting the load around to finally get it right...he had to go up to the flyin j like 5 different times within an hour and a half or so
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A couple yrs ago I had a load with a lot of ice build up. I hit the Monument CO scale and got pulled in. The scale person had a fit about it. When I told him that it was ice he thought I was a liar and turned to the CVSA inspector standing there and asked him what he thought. That guy told the scale person with a sneer and a stupid look......... "its the ice, let the driver go"
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Good one.....I had a similar run in like that a few years back -
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I heard that some states allow you up to #500 over (on Tractor) if you have an APU on truck. It that true?
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baddog its the feds that are giving us the extra 500 lbs but its up to the state to let us use the extra 500 lbs
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personally i would have refused to have run. every one very quickly got slightly off point at the start, over axle is one thing but over GROSS is another its not just a overweight ticket its also an out of service violation. and just because your dispatcher tells you "just go ahead and run it if you get caught we will pay the ticket" its his/her job to get you to run the load a lot to most of them don't know what its like to be on this end of the qalcom or the phone they go home every night to there home when they clock out your not there problem any more. most dispatchers, brokers, and recruiters all fall into one category B.S. artists, and you shouldn't trust what they say any further then you can pick up and throw your truck. also being over gross get into an accident some one gets hurt its you thats going to burn not the dispatcher that said it will be ok just go the over gross will look just the same in court as hos violations or mechanical problems with your truck that would have put you out of service. and the bottom line is if you had gotten caught even if the company paid the ticket the record of it is still on your license and since your license is your livelihood i wouldn't roll the dice on that one
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