To Scale or NOT To Scale..That is the question?.

The truck I was driving earlier this year had a scale reading on the dash. It was a freightliner. I tried to keep it around 50.

I pulled alot of the heavy loads, usually loaded at the same place, same way. It would be almost 44,000. I rarely scaled. I would put the axles on the 13th hole and have at it.

I think I only scaled 3 times in 3 months.

 

An air suspension gauge for the drives and a spread axle trailer eliminate the need for me to scale out most of the time when I belive to be at close to 80, or under.

 

When it comes to being that heavy I always scale to make sure my axle weights are good. Distance and scales don't mean nothing. I been pulled over less than a block from where I loaded. And with my luck, I could get caught and given a ticket for thinking about running heavy. So I would rather spend the $9 and make sure. Especially in this day and age of states and cities looking for money from any pockets they can get it.

 

Depends on what I'm hauling. For example, pallets of water...if they're loaded single-double-single in the nose, I'll set the tandems at 40' and ride on down the road. However, if it's odd-ball pallets and I can't be reasonably sure of the weight, then I'll find a CAT scale just to CYA.

 

I never drove a truck with an on-board scale. Being a firm believer in CYA, if there was any doubt at all, I'd scale it.

 

Depends on where I am running with the load and how well balanced it looks in the trailer. I got air suspension gauge so may or may not decide to scale. Can understand those that are not comfortable with air gauge. I have been using them for over a decade. A new gauge I would scale until I am comfortable that the gauge is accurate. After that, rarely scale.

 

Spread axles FTMFW!!!! I never scale.

 

At 78k, scale it!! I could usually look at the tractor suspension guage, how its loaded and come out right, but for $9 i would rather make sure than have to hand over alot more $$$.

 

Don't want to give DOT a reason to look at me any closer or more often.

Reason is if not willing to scale, likely not willing to do other requirements. I scale anything over 34K.