Highway weigh stations

[BeauGeste]

I use an F-350 diesel, dually, flatbed to pull a 10K trailer with my Kubota B7800. I'm fairly heavily loaded with a 60" bushing mower on the flatbed and the tractor having a front end loader and 7.5' backhoe. I go on Interstates from my home in MA up to VT where we have land and up to ME where friends have land. All works fine.

I have never seen one of the those roadside (or Interstate-side) weigh stations open. But, if it were open, should I pull over and queue up? Last thing I want is to be chased for a violation.

 

[Groo]

I'd skip it, you can always plead ignorance. different states have different regulations, but I think they are mainly for comercial vehicle heavier than 1 ton. I always blow by them in a comercial E350 van. the only time I've ever seen them go after anyone is in a bigger truck.

 

[Reg]

Weigh stations do vary, read the sign carefully and pull in if you even think it MIGHT apply to you.
9 out of 10 times you will be waved through, the 10th time they might chat to figure if you are really private or commercial, from there you might get weighed.

I'm fairly sure I've seen 3/4 and 1 ton vans and pick-ups chased down for not stopping on I-84 in Union, CT.
That is one weigh station I ALWAYS pull into, it has a reputation and I did get a very minor warning ticket there one time, but it was a minor "technical" warning ticket and I think a judge would have thrown it out if it had been a citation.
There are others that say "Commercial Vehicles", some say "Any vehicle pulling a trailer", you just have to read ALL the categories that MIGHT apply to you and pull in if there is any doubt.
I sometimes think they get impatient with me for holding up the line, they would MUCH rather talk to the 80,000 lb guy behind me that looks as if he might be at 90,000 lb.

 

[LBrown59]

I use an F-350 diesel, dually, flatbed to pull a 10K trailer with my Kubota B7800. I'm fairly heavily loaded with a 60" bushing mower on the flatbed and the tractor having a front end loader and 7.5' backhoe. I go on Interstates from my home in MA up to VT where we have land and up to ME where friends have land. All works fine.

I have never seen one of the those roadside (or Interstate-side) weigh stations open. But, if it were open, should I pull over and queue up? Last thing I want is to be chased for a violation.

Those are for commerical out fits not private individuals.

 

[RickB]

I use an F-350 diesel, dually, flatbed to pull a 10K trailer with my Kubota B7800. I'm fairly heavily loaded with a 60" bushing mower on the flatbed and the tractor having a front end loader and 7.5' backhoe. I go on Interstates from my home in MA up to VT where we have land and up to ME where friends have land. All works fine.

I have never seen one of the those roadside (or Interstate-side) weigh stations open. But, if it were open, should I pull over and queue up? Last thing I want is to be chased for a violation.

DOT regs kick in at 10,000lbs GVW. Figuring your GCVWR at 21,000lbs and assuming you have a 'truck' or 'commercial' plate on the truck (I live in NY, not MA), you are legally required to stop at weigh stations. In the real world you probably will get waved through 95% of the time and won't get chased down 98% of the time if you bypass an open weigh station.

 

[Conservation]

Just about all motorhomes are above that number, and they are not required to weigh. In Illinois, I'm pretty sure it has to be a commercial outfit to be required. Although busses are also exempt.

DOT regs kick in at 10,000lbs GVW. Figuring your GCVWR at 21,000lbs and assuming you have a 'truck' or 'commercial' plate on the truck (I live in NY, not MA), you are legally required to stop at weigh stations. In the real world you probably will get waved through 95% of the time and won't get chased down 98% of the time if you bypass an open weigh station.

 

[sak778]

We had an 07 dodge 3500 4 door when hooked to the 35 foot trailer the combined Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating was 26,000. when hooked to the 07 F-350 4 door the GCVWR's added up to 26,500. that is over the standard class C 26,001 lbs limit. That will earn you a ticket and require a class A or B Commercial Drivers License to move.
Y'all might want to check some tags and do some addition. Dot goes by potential weight rating not actual weight unless you are over weight. Also proper weight distribution.
Scales are for commercial vehicles. put you farm name and Not For Hire on your vehicle and you shouldn't have any problems. If you mow other peoples property for hire and transport your own equipment from job sites then you are a commercial vehicle and need to check and see what you need to be doing. YMMV Sean

 

[Duffster]

the local weigh station says "trucks over 4 tons" and farm trucks need to weigh

 

[Bird]

It's been a long time ago, but I believe it was Wyoming where I saw signs that said "all vehicles towing trailers" which surprised me so I pulled in with my travel trailer, and of course, was told that it didn't mean RVs.

 

[Skyco]

It's been a long time ago, but I believe it was Wyoming where I saw signs that said "all vehicles towing trailers" which surprised me so I pulled in with my travel trailer, and of course, was told that it didn't mean RVs.

Had the exact same thing happen to me about 20 years ago in Colorado I think it was, may have been Wyoming, somewhere out there. Sat there next to the window at the scale house and they just stared at me....finally got out, went in and was told rather impolitely I didn't need to be there. But the sign says.......they just laughed. Must be an inside joke on the rv'ers..

 

[RickB]

Just about all motorhomes are above that number, and they are not required to weigh. In Illinois, I'm pretty sure it has to be a commercial outfit to be required. Although busses are also exempt.

I'm not mentioning motor homes, and neither is the original poster. In most states, they have their own class of plate and registration. RV's and motor homes also get a free ride when it comes to requiring competent drivers too, but that's another problem entirely.

 

[BJN644]

I've seen 1-tons at the check stops in Maine before, the sign says all trucks and busses, I suspect most smaller rigs would be waved through. I wouldn't chance getting chased down, if your GVW is 10,000 or more you are considered commercial.

In fact in Maine you need to register commercial if your GVW is 6,000 or more. I got into a big argument with the folks at the motor vehicle office several years ago. I insisted that my vehicle was for personal use and not used commercially. They said it didn't matter, it was what was stamped on the door of the truck as to what the GVW was, and over 6,000 is considered commercial in Maine. I still say say it's BS, and I know allot of people get away without doing it. She did say the fine was allot more than the extra fee for commercial registration.

 

[LoneCowboy]

Call them!!!

all states are different.
In colorado, commercial or not, below 26,000, you don't pull into the scale houses. (but if you are commercial, no matter what you weigh, you have to stop at the mobile DOT stations)
In Kansas, commercial, no matter what you weigh, they want to see you in the scale house. even just a pickup (yes, i was shocked too)


On a seperate note, it's a good thing that the RV'er's have a serious good lobbyists, because if they did weigh, 90% of them would be overweight and out of service.
But somehow they get off scot free.

 

[Bird]

RV'er's have a serious good lobbyists, because if they did weigh, 90% of them would be overweight

Where'd you get that 90% number? I always guessed it was only about 75%, but you might be right.

 

[shakin]

bjn you are right about maine. anything that has the potential to weigh over 10,000 needs a commercial plate or at least a combination plate. around here and there a stations on each side of my town they will come and get you if you look over the 10,000. go by them with a dually and a trailer and tractor see what happens, maybe if they have bigger fish on the hook you might get lucky but if they are just waiting for something to do look out. and by the way do not forget about the commercial inspection sticker it's different than the one for vehicles under 10,000

 

[orezok]

Most of the weigh station signs here in CA have "No Pickups" listed on them. Now the issue becomes what is a pickup? Is a F450 a pickup? A F550? All pickups in CA are registered as commercial vehicles.

 

[LoneCowboy]

Where'd you get that 90% number? I always guessed it was only about 75%, but you might be right.

Pulled it out of my.......................
errr I mean it's a SWAG.

But i'm pretty sure.

3/4 ton (F250s) do not pull fully loaded 35 foot 5th wheels and still make weight.

 

[Willl]

I'd blow right past and not even think about it.

 

[Highbeam]

I'd blow right past and not even think about it.

Me too. Non-commercial pickups are not "trucks".

I have pulled into closed weigh stations and used the scales to check my weights and to be sure that I'm loaded properly.

 

[Bird]

Me too. Non-commercial pickups are not "trucks".

I have pulled into closed weigh stations and used the scales to check my weights and to be sure that I'm loaded properly.

I've never seen one where you could see the weight when they were closed. However, I have pulled in with the motorhome, told them I knew I didn't have to stop, but wanted to know what my rig weighed and they told me.

When my brother got out of the Matco Tool Distributor business, he and I took his truck to Denver to be refurbished, new dealer name and phone number painted on it, etc. and we were towing his Suzuki Sidekick on a two wheeled dolly. When we entered Colorado and drove onto the scales, they told him to pull off to the side and come inside (something that hadn't happened in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas), but they only asked what he was hauling. It seems they want to know if you're coming into their state to sell something. When he told them the truck was empty and why we were taking it to Denver, they didn't check any further.