Scale questions ...

I worked for a company where we went thru the scales out of Boise Idaho all the time, there was one officer there that didnt like the owner or his son and started axle weighing us, he would wait until the steer axle was on the scale and hit the stop button, i got to where i would jam on the brakes when he did this, after a while the scale was closed for repairs, they never said anything to me about it. And Cabbage yea a lot of fun, 6% downgrade and twisty but after youve done it a few times and are used to it, its a peice of cake, i used to go down it about45 to 50 all the time without any problem, about halfway down tho is a 45 mph curve and you better be doing about that or spill it, but i would much rather run cabbage than donner pass anyday.

 

Lonewolf I had a similar incident at the NM scale on I-40. I asked the lady how much over I was she told me. I fixed it and was on my way. BTW no inspection. I agree it has to do with who,when, and where the scales are. I've noticed that if you are third or fourth in a line and have prepass you'll usually get a green light unless they are training that day.

 

Don't know if this was brought up, I had a scalemaster at the poe in Wa state just past the Hermiston bridge tell me that when you approach the metal plates sensors b4 you get to the scalehouse xt, to be sure that you are already running at a slow speed and not still hammering on your brakes or doing a hard braking manuver when you roll over the sensors. He said what happens more frequently is that when drivers are doing hard braking
it temporarly shifts more weight onto the steer axles so will give the sensors a false reading of your true weight of the axles towards the front of your vehicle, and most times even if you are way under gross the computer will pull you in because of this .
Also, I had pre-pass and asked him why even when I had been inspected/passed in their state did I get a red lite anyway?
He then told me that they donot recognize prepass but us another system called Propass which has been around b4 prepass hit the market.
He then opened a drawer and gave me some pamphlets on propass, it's only sixty bucks a year at a one time fee, with nocrossing charges!

Hope this helps, Blessings!!!!

 

OOPSIE! FALSE information here!

Yes they CAN tell your speed, your gross AND axle weights! Some even have cameras good enough to read the tag and other information from the truck! All this while still out on the road. Some scales have the infrared brake sensors that tell the scale person if you have a hot brake or brakes.

Times: OH heck yes they do! And they use them during an audit! Remember in this industry if a computer is used fuel, cat scale, food receipt, PrePass there is a time stamp!

It doesn't matter how many TIMES you were inspected over the past year, it matters how many times you were written up! I've had 3, L-3 inspections this year and passed every one (got the $50 from the company all 3 times!) It's the companies safe stat number that matters on when you get pulled in as the PrePass is sending out an ID number that corresponds to the carrier not just the truck. Getting a red light could be a reflection on the score OR it could be because the scale house could have the thing set to bring in a certain number of trucks such as 1 out of 5 2 out of 5 ect and they can set them for scores above a certain number.

Lets remember everyone that if you give the guys a hard time at the scale house you can be giving the rest of us a hard time because of your attitude! Crap does roll down hill and the next driver walking in is heading uphill! I go in and yes sir or no maam and have a smile on my face and leave with a thank you. I don't want another driver to have a hard time because I'm an Arse!

A few of us were being pulled into Banning and some moron truck driver who thought he knew it all was arguing with the guy in there and the guy behind me spoke up and told him to shut the hell up as he was going to make it hard on the rest of us and when he looked at the four of us he decided to shut his face! When he walked out with his hand full of tickets the scale master thanked us and told us to hit the road!

BE NICE! The guy with the ink pen can leave marks that hurt worse than the gun!

 

My fave scale is the one on I-80, MM around 180 or so in Utah. 9 times out of 10, I'd get red-lighted there - Empty, light, or heavy, I'd pull through. Truck had recent inspections, company has good safety rating...[/quote]

I have the same problem in Wash. Everytime I go into that state I get the red light MT or loaded. The only time I get a green is when the scale is closed and they left the system on. One of our other trucks has the same problem but with Origon. Go figure

 

I think I can answer your question. First, if you have EZ pass, (a electronic mointoring system), you may or may not have to enter a weigh station depending on your weight and other factors. Not all trucks have the preclearance system and must enter the weigh station regardless. Second, as you enter the weigh station on the ramp, there is a pre-weigh scale on the ramp which determines your eligibilty to go through the by- pass lane or get weighed in full on the full platform scale usally located in front of the scale house. Even if your weight checks out to be ok, the state DOT officers may pull you in at random and check your documents and/or truck. The DOT has different levels of inspections. So, in closing, weight is not only thing checked at weigh stations. However, some thinks can alert DOT officers to check you out, like having a light out or not following specific instructions and the most common, trying to rush through and not following procedures. I hope this answered your question.

 

Washington, Oregon, and Idaho aren't prepass. They can still send out the green light or red light signals, but they don't have access to the prepass system for the preclearance.

It's a nuisance. I especially despise I-80 mm 180 in Utah (I almost always get the red light). And I don't like I-82 in Hermiston (non-prepass). Just because of the exit, right turn, right turn, drive glacially slow through the lot, make a right, make a left and make a right just to get back on the highway.

 

I beg to differ Sly Fox! Ashland P.O.E.,Boomer Hill and Woodburn scales in Or. are pre-pass. Just ask the drivers who have been put out of service by checking the scale crossing in other states. The Company I work for has Pre-pass in every truck and I've seen hefty citation that were given to some of our drivers who thought they were smarter than the system.There is no better teacher than experience or a huge ticket!!!!

 

i need to know something is the sign says to pull in to the scalehouse and i am getting a greenlight on my prepass do i pull in to the scale house or just keep on trucking ?