Weigh stations

[mikehaugen]

Do they keep some sort of database with all tow vehicles' tow ratings on them or what? My door sticker has GVWR, but says nothing about towing. I had to look in my manual to find out, and even then you need info that would not be obvious to a DOT worker, so how do they know if you are in compliance? It should be pretty obvious that you are not exceeding the 80,000 weight limit for the road.

 

[Soundguy]

All of the weigh stations in Nova Scotia now have sensors in the road leading up to them. All trucks must use the right lane, drive over the road sensor and depending on the weight a large sign will either show "Truck, report to scale" or "Truck, bypass scale". This works great, and it cuts back on traffic at the scale. I'm not even sure if I am required to enter the scale with farm plates, but I go in if the sign tells me too.

i have seen prescale places too. for the heck of it i was in the truck lane near a scale and got the bypass scale sign too in my 450 and gn trailer.

 

[Looking4new]

Do they keep some sort of database with all tow vehicles' tow ratings on them or what? My door sticker has GVWR, but says nothing about towing. I had to look in my manual to find out, and even then you need info that would not be obvious to a DOT worker, so how do they know if you are in compliance? It should be pretty obvious that you are not exceeding the 80,000 weight limit for the road.

In Ontario the GVWR is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating = The total weight that your truck + trailer + load weighs. The DoT are almost smart enough to know from experience how much you can haul and one look at the door sticker and you having already been on the scales is all they need to bust you. Especially if your license plate is not paid for that weight. ie:hauling 8,000 lbs with a pickup and trailer that is only licensed for 5,000 lbs. and the GVWR tag on the door says the GVWR is only 5,500 lbs.

 

[Looking4new]

i have seen prescale places too. for the heck of it i was in the truck lane near a scale and got the bypass scale sign too in my 450 and gn trailer.

Michigan has weigh in motion scales embedded in the highway and you run through the coop at 30 mph. Not 29 and not 31. They are extremely fussy about it. Usually it is a Canadian truck from Ontario that will mess up the works and end up 'around back'. In Ontario the weigh in motion wiring is in the scale lane at the scale and they expect you to stop before the scale and then on the scale and wait for the green light, for each axle or group of axles. There is where the confusion is for Ontario drivers that have never crossed Michigan scales before. I learned the easy way, I asked on the CB before I got to the scales.

 

[mikehaugen]

GVWR is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating = The total weight that your truck + trailer + load weighs. The DoT are almost smart enough to know from experience how much you can haul and one look at the door sticker and you having already been on the scales is all they need to bust you. Especially if your license plate is not paid for that weight. ie:hauling 8,000 lbs with a pickup and trailer that is only licensed for 5,000 lbs. and the GVWR tag on the door says the GVWR is only 5,500 lbs.

GVWR as I know it only includes the vehicle itself. Mine is 8800 on a ram 2500, that doesn't leave me much to tow. GCVWR is what I understand to include trailer. That info is not on the door sticker.

 

[Looking4new]

GVWR as I know it only includes the vehicle itself. Mine is 8800 on a ram 2500, that doesn't leave me much to tow. GCVWR is what I understand to include trailer. That info is not on the door sticker.

Mike, can you check with ILDoT on that? I could probably do it from here, but you know the terminology down there better than I. I don't mind giving out public information, but I want it to be accurate.

 

[MattLynch]

They aren't really concerned about gross weight here, more just weight per axle as that is what damages roads. There are also spring weight restrictions in which the allowed weight per axle is drastically reduced and heavy trucks can only travel on certain roads due to the frost coming out of the ground.

 

[Looking4new]

Here it is called 'half load' season.

 

[Looking4new]

They aren't really concerned about gross weight here, more just weight per axle as that is what damages roads. There are also spring weight restrictions in which the allowed weight per axle is drastically reduced and heavy trucks can only travel on certain roads due to the frost coming out of the ground.

You do license your truck for a 'gross weight' though, don't you?

 

[MattLynch]

I don't think so, a farm registration is the same for all farm trucks, same $12 anyway. I do register my trailer by weight though, that's expensive!

 

[MattLynch]

I think commercial non farm trucks are registered by weight though.

 

[tcartwri]

In Ontario the GVWR is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating = The total weight that your truck + trailer + load weighs. The DoT are almost smart enough to know from experience how much you can haul and one look at the door sticker and you having already been on the scales is all they need to bust you. Especially if your license plate is not paid for that weight. ie:hauling 8,000 lbs with a pickup and trailer that is only licensed for 5,000 lbs. and the GVWR tag on the door says the GVWR is only 5,500 lbs.

Nope. GVWR is the truck only, but obviously the amount of pin weight the trailer places on the truck is included in this number.

 

[terryknight]

Nope. GVWR is the truck only, but obviously the amount of pin weight the trailer places on the truck is included in this number.

a trailer will also have a GVWR

 

[milkman]

Michigan has weigh in motion scales embedded in the highway and you run through the coop at 30 mph. Not 29 and not 31. They are extremely fussy about it. Usually it is a Canadian truck from Ontario that will mess up the works and end up 'around back'. In Ontario the weigh in motion wiring is in the scale lane at the scale and they expect you to stop before the scale and then on the scale and wait for the green light, for each axle or group of axles. There is where the confusion is for Ontario drivers that have never crossed Michigan scales before. I learned the easy way, I asked on the CB before I got to the scales.

And how do you know which steering wheel holding lawyer/DOT expert/road engineer/ law officer/ etc.etc. to listen to on the CB.

 

[Looking4new]

I can't use farm plates here. Seems I have to net $3,000.oo from farm products/yr before I can get farm plates. 6 chickens won't get me 3 g's /year

 

[tcartwri]

a trailer will also have a GVWR

yes, of course.

 

[sparc]

All of the weigh stations in Nova Scotia now have sensors in the road leading up to them. All trucks must use the right lane, drive over the road sensor and depending on the weight a large sign will either show "Truck, report to scale" or "Truck, bypass scale". This works great, and it cuts back on traffic at the scale. I'm not even sure if I am required to enter the scale with farm plates, but I go in if the sign tells me too.

In the 70s I drove for a local commercial florist/nursery. We had a dozen or so trucks on the road on any given day making deliveries within 500 miles of Philly. All our trucks had farm plates and we never stopped for any scales in any state because we weren't required to. All our rigs were IH Cargostar or Loadstars straight trucks with a 28 foot heated box on the back so we could move plants all winter and not have them freeze.

But in the 3.5 years I drove I never got pulled over once or waved in to a scale.

 

[Looking4new]

And how do you know which steering wheel holding lawyer/DOT expert/road engineer/ law officer/ etc.etc. to listen to on the CB.

I also paid close attention to the signs in the coop lane that said '30mph' Do not stop.

 

[Looking4new]

tcartwri for you, this is the MTO website and the information


Determining Registered Gross Weights for Trucks Towing Light Duty Trailers



Determining Registered Gross Weights for Trucks Towing Light Duty Trailers

The registered gross weight (RGW) determines the fee paid for truck licence plates. The truck's RGW is based on, and must be at least equal to the actual weight of the truck, or truck and trailer(s) and load(s). A trailer permit does not have a RGW. Generally the weight of a towed trailer(s) and its load are added to the RGW of the truck. Load includes the driver, passengers, fuel, equipment, tools, cargo, equipment, etc. carried in the truck and trailer.

The RGW is indicated on the right portion (plate portion) of a truck's ownership, to the right of "REG. GROSS WT" and is in kilograms (kg). One kilogram equals 2.204 pounds and one pound equals .4536 (kg).

"Truck" includes pickups and business type vans with truck licence plates. Farm plated trucks are subject to the same RGW rules.

The "Vehicle Permits Regulation", made under the Highway Traffic Act, provides an exemption for light trailers, specifically;

"where a trailer transmits to the highway a total weight of 2,800 kilograms (6,173 lb.) or less, that weight shall not be included in determining registered gross weight".

To determine how much an attached trailer transmits to the highway, and to determine how much a truck should be registered for:

Weigh the trailer only, with the trailer attached to the truck.
Illustration One - Weight A

Illustration of trailer only, with the trailer attached to the truck

Weigh the truck only, with the trailer attached.
Illustration Two - Weight B

Illustration of truck only, with the trailer attached

If the trailer weighs more than 2,800 kg (6,171 lb.);

Register the truck for at least the combined weight of the truck and trailer, weights A and B.

If the trailer weighs 2,800 kg (6,171 lb.) or less;

Register the truck for at least the weight of the truck (weight B), which includes trailer tongue weight. Weight transmitted directly to the ground, by the trailer, is not included in the RGW.

This is an unofficial version of Government of Ontario legal materials. For accurate reference refer to the official volumes. The Highway Traffic Act and Regulations made under the Act may be viewed on the internet at www.e-laws.gov.on.ca.

There are two pictures that didn't come through with the copy & paste. But the website is there.

 

[tcartwri]

We're talking about two different things. GVWR and RGW are related but different. I have to admit I have never heard of the statute you posted. It seems silly to specify such a narrow range of trailers before you get into commercial tags and inspection rules at 10,000 lbs.