Log in or Sign up

What is to stop an overweight tractor-trailer from avoiding all weigh stations?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by expedite_it, Apr 15, 2021.

Page 11 of 12

striker Road Train Member

Joined:

Aug 8, 2009

Messages:

6,023

Thanks Received:

6,436

Location:

Denver, Co

0

expedite_it said: ↑

Let's say that a trucker just got a dry van trailer loaded with 45,000 pounds of freight at a shipper. The trucker goes to a CAT scale, and the steers are overweight. The trucker does not want to take the time to go back to the shipper to get the freight re-worked. Maybe it is Friday night, and the shipper closed until Monday right after the trucker left the shipper. The receiver is a thousand miles away from the shipper. The trucker has EZ pass installed on his windshield.

If the trucker decides to drive to the receiver with overweight steer axle and just avoids all weigh stations, I don't think that there is any chance that any highway patrol officer will pull him over for bypassing the weight station and give him a ticket because for all the highway patrol officer knows, the trucker got a bypass signal on his EZ pass. The only consequence that I can think of to the trucker is that the equipment at the weigh station will be able to detect that the truck bypassed the weigh station without getting a signal on his EZ pass, and the truckers' carrier will get points added to their CSA score for that. But I don't think that the points would go on the individual driver's CSA score, only the carrier's CSA score. Points added to the carrier's CSA score only is not much of a deterrent for avoiding the weigh stations for a driver at a mega-carrier. I don't think that the powers-that-be at the Mega-Carrier would know which drivers are avoiding the weigh stations.

What is to stop the overweight tractor-trailer from just driving with an overweight steer axle all the way to the receiver?
Click to expand...

BTW, here's something else to keep in mind, yes you can jump on the backroads and dodge the scales, but, you better have an extremely compelling reason for doing so. Here in Colorado, the scales on I-76 and I-25 are notorious for trucks dodging them, especially the locals. For the last 10 yrs, State Patrol, Ft. Morgan Police and Morgan Co. sheriff regularly patrol those backroads near the I-76 scales, the only excuse for you being on them, you better have the little pink permit, issued by the state that allows you to bypass the scale (if within 5 miles), otherwise, the will escort you to the scale, weigh you, then cite you for dodging the scales, and anything else they can think of. Also, the portables have gotten wise to this and will randomly setup on those backroads, GOTCHA.

striker, Apr 18, 2021

#101

alds Thanks this.
bad-luck Road Train Member

Joined:

Nov 16, 2013

Messages:

3,292

Thanks Received:

6,056

Location:

Baltimore, Maryland

0

expedite_it said: ↑

Let's say that a trucker just got a dry van trailer loaded with 45,000 pounds of freight at a shipper. The trucker goes to a CAT scale, and the steers are overweight. The trucker does not want to take the time to go back to the shipper to get the freight re-worked. Maybe it is Friday night, and the shipper closed until Monday right after the trucker left the shipper. The receiver is a thousand miles away from the shipper. The trucker has EZ pass installed on his windshield.

If the trucker decides to drive to the receiver with overweight steer axle and just avoids all weigh stations, I don't think that there is any chance that any highway patrol officer will pull him over for bypassing the weight station and give him a ticket because for all the highway patrol officer knows, the trucker got a bypass signal on his EZ pass. The only consequence that I can think of to the trucker is that the equipment at the weigh station will be able to detect that the truck bypassed the weigh station without getting a signal on his EZ pass, and the truckers' carrier will get points added to their CSA score for that. But I don't think that the points would go on the individual driver's CSA score, only the carrier's CSA score. Points added to the carrier's CSA score only is not much of a deterrent for avoiding the weigh stations for a driver at a mega-carrier. I don't think that the powers-that-be at the Mega-Carrier would know which drivers are avoiding the weigh stations.

What is to stop the overweight tractor-trailer from just driving with an overweight steer axle all the way to the receiver?
Click to expand...

If you have been driving for a while, you know how to get around most of the scales.

bad-luck, Apr 18, 2021

#102

ranaldo20 Thanks this.
snowwy Road Train Member

Joined:

Jul 6, 2009

Messages:

20,537

Thanks Received:

13,274

0

Depends on 48 state or regional making a rare run to the other side.

snowwy, Apr 18, 2021

#103
Qbf594 Road Train Member

Joined:

Aug 15, 2019

Messages:

1,641

Thanks Received:

8,711

Location:

Southern Canadian annex, NY

0

This

Chinatown said: ↑

The problem I had with the coffee and sugar, was it was loaded on Friday afternoon and as soon as it was loaded, the warehouse shut down for the weekend. Didn't want to wait around until Monday.
Click to expand...

^^Was me with lumber out of Cape Canaveral.
Trucker Path baby!!!!

And yes, I also was told that's why the EZ Pass keeps beeping in case you need to prove to a cop.
Not all EZ Pass locations always bypass. I thought there was a point at which even excellent companies had to roll thru 1 or 2x... Maybe I'm mistaken

Qbf594, Apr 19, 2021

#104
kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

Joined:

Jan 13, 2013

Messages:

10,599

Thanks Received:

45,358

Location:

SW Arkansas

0

Qbf594 said: ↑

This

^^Was me with lumber out of Cape Canaveral.
Trucker Path baby!!!!

And yes, I also was told that's why the EZ Pass keeps beeping in case you need to prove to a cop.
Not all EZ Pass locations always bypass. I thought there was a point at which even excellent companies had to roll thru 1 or 2x... Maybe I'm mistaken
Click to expand...

I was told by a DOT that the scalehouse can set the PrePass so everyone gets a red light and has to come in. Then change it back when they are ready. Said they like to take a look at the trucks that often get a pass. Especially when they are having an inspection party.

kemosabi49, Apr 19, 2021

#105

Qbf594 Thanks this.
Long FLD Road Train Member

Joined:

Mar 4, 2015

Messages:

11,808

Thanks Received:

48,345

0

striker said: ↑

BTW, here's something else to keep in mind, yes you can jump on the backroads and dodge the scales, but, you better have an extremely compelling reason for doing so. Here in Colorado, the scales on I-76 and I-25 are notorious for trucks dodging them, especially the locals. For the last 10 yrs, State Patrol, Ft. Morgan Police and Morgan Co. sheriff regularly patrol those backroads near the I-76 scales, the only excuse for you being on them, you better have the little pink permit, issued by the state that allows you to bypass the scale (if within 5 miles), otherwise, the will escort you to the scale, weigh you, then cite you for dodging the scales, and anything else they can think of. Also, the portables have gotten wise to this and will randomly setup on those backroads, GOTCHA.
Click to expand...

If you have axles they don’t hardly give you second look on the roads close to the scales anymore because they figure you have the weight permit.

Long FLD, Apr 19, 2021

#106
striker Road Train Member

Joined:

Aug 8, 2009

Messages:

6,023

Thanks Received:

6,436

Location:

Denver, Co

0

Long FLD said: ↑

If you have axles they don’t hardly give you second look on the roads close to the scales anymore because they figure you have the weight permit.
Click to expand...

They want to see that bypass permit though

striker, Apr 21, 2021

#107
Long FLD Road Train Member

Joined:

Mar 4, 2015

Messages:

11,808

Thanks Received:

48,345

0

striker said: ↑

They want to see that bypass permit though
Click to expand...

I haven’t even been stopped and asked for the 97k permit since right after I bought my first one.

Long FLD, Apr 21, 2021

#108
JolliRoger Road Train Member

Joined:

May 8, 2007

Messages:

16,722

Thanks Received:

137,650

Location:

Mississippi

0

Cattleman84 said: ↑

Yeah ive had similar situations... I went all the way from Eastern KY to WY without crossing a single scale. 2 lanes are an over weight truckers best friend.
Click to expand...

The "Scenic Routes" were so relaxing in the old days. Lakeland, FL to Wentzville, MO. Wait him out till shift change. Then on to Minneapolis.

JolliRoger, Apr 21, 2021

#109
JolliRoger Road Train Member

Joined:

May 8, 2007

Messages:

16,722

Thanks Received:

137,650

Location:

Mississippi

0

Old Man said: ↑

I go into a lot of scale houses with oversized loads. Some have beautiful high def pictures of trucks approaching their scales with truck info listed with the picture. All states are different, but most are high tech, I say go for it and let us know what happens.
Back in the 70’s I know someone that stopped by the Stratford, Mo scale open sign, pulled the rope to make it say closed, waited for a couple trucks to pass and went on his way. The good old days.
Click to expand...

Otherfolk did strange things back then, With unusual success too.

JolliRoger, Apr 21, 2021

#110

(You must log in or sign up to reply here.)

Page 11 of 12

Search