I was just curious as to what the laws were regarding who does and doesn't need to stop at a weigh station. Obviously, driving my unloaded F350 down the interstate, I wouldn't have to stop at one, however, what if I'm towing my 30' gooseneck with 5K on it for a total of 11.3K (including the trailer)? What if I had a 100 cobblestones in my bed (while not towing a trailer) that each weighed just under 20lbs?
Most states will ignore pick-up trucks as far as the weigh stations are concerned. (Won't stop Officer Friendly from giving you a hard time if he feels like it) The states that do require pick-ups to pull in, it's usually only commercial use, and registered over 10,000 lbs (here in Utah for example). California though makes a point of putting "No Pick-ups" on their signs for the weigh stations. On the other hand, EVERY vehicle pulling livestock is supposed to pull in to the weigh stations in most of the states I drive, but I routinely see pick-ups with horse trailers (and horses) drive right by.
If you do a search on the subject you should find about 500 posts, 90% of which is speculation. A ten minute call to your local highway patrol, DMV, etc, will give you the correct answer.
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A ten minute call to your local highway patrol, DMV, etc, will give you the correct answer.
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Don't bet on it! In my experience you can call multiple times and get different answers /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif
I'm trying to find out the same thing, I recently bought a dump trailer and am at 23,000 or so total truck and trailer loaded. Private use not for hire, fortunately where I'm hauling I don't pass any weigh stations but that doesn't meant they can't pull you on the road to check you out....
Best bet is to call a state scale and talk to a D.O.T. enforcement officer or even better pull in and park behind one that is open when you are on the road. Go on in and talk to the D.O.T. enforcement officer on duty. The folks there are VERY helpful and are the ones who deal with the laws and such every day. I had one inspector tell me he often has to correct a state trooper on what is and is not legal.
It is fun calling/stoping and visiting with DOT folks or at weight scales. You will get a new answer ever time.
Think of it as TSA without that much power. I have pulled into scales and asked. I had to leave before arguement between the workers got violent.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/phoney.gif
The only reason to stop would be to use the rest room !
And I'd rather pull over and use my own than go to theirs !
Stop by and say Howdy ! That's the only reason to visit, your not a commerical veh..
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RobertJohn
That IMO should be the way it is. IF you rent a Penske truck you must sign a waiver that you WILL stop (ok drive thru) all weigh stations. That you have been informed of this by Penske and will not attempt to push blame to Penske for failing to inform you. I got to chat with folks at two weigh stations between FL and MN on that trip. Neither knew for sure if I HAD to stop.
I have never seen a nation wide (heck state wide) FIRM statement on this.
I signed a waiver like that too. It was Ryder truck.
I used to never hit scales when pulling my 40 race car trailer with my pickup. From Ohio to FLA to IL...never. Now that I use the Mack, I pull thru. Never been an issue, smile and wave.
The signs at Ohio scales NOW read ALL trucks over ? weight(can't remember now). They don't care commercial or not.
I just got back yesterday from pulling thru Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona pulling 31kGCW and I never stopped at any scales but I was weighed as I went by the scales in every State (electronic road scales with cameras).
I'm not commerical so I didn't have to stop. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif
I had several State Patrol cars pass me on the roads other than New Mexico as in 350 miles I never seen a cop and not one even gave me a second look. I was followed by a DOT officer in Texas for a few miles without being stopped but he did nail a 18 wheeler heading east.
As far as I'm concerned, if your not COMMERICAL your asking for trouble pulling into the scales. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif
I've towed my rig in all the states except Hawaii, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. I've never stopped at a weigh station and have never had any repercussions from it.
The ONLY time I've ever been stopped was going thru Florida while pulling my empty 6 horse trailer. I saw the sign that said that all livestock haulers had to stop-but since I was empty I just sailed on past. My wife and I & daughter & son-in-law were enaged in conversation and I looked up and there were pretty blue and red lights behind me /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
So I pulled over and the officer looked through my trailer and chewed me out for not stopping, but let me go on my way...........
On the return trip I made sure that I stopped /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
This time, I had put toy "stick ponies" in the windows /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif (the officer was not amused) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif
However, he looked through the trailer and tack room (I think he was looking for illegal aliens /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif)
That is the great thing about this system. Seems every officer has a different thought on how strict it should be. I've heard guys pulling EMPTY utility trailers getting popped for not stopping /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif. So, instead of getting yelled out for not stopping, I spend a minute going thru and go on my way.
ALL rv's are exempt! Unless you are pulling them for profit(delivery them as a business).
The neighbor of mine who I mentioned just got a DOT # after running for years without..... Well he says it has caused so dang much trouble. He gets pulled over all the time when they see it. Fine tooth comb treatment. He (thinks) it is because they run it first and see it is new so they can work on him. He was 20 min over hrs and less then 10 miles from delivery point and they got him. (course you can drive your car for 2+ days without rest) He does not think he has gotten the same (rules/laws) twice in a row. (even in same state)
I talked to MNDOT and requested they post some answers here. So far I have not seen anything. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
In person is fine but on web/in writing no way. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif I hope someone proves me wrong.
I'm in Texas and pull a 26' enclosed car hauler. I had been past the same weigh station many times without a problem. A couple years ago I had a State Trooper chase me down for not stopping. After cking my trailer and hitch, he let me go with a warning. He told me that even though I'm not commercial I have to stop. They are looking for more than excess weight. So now I roll through and wave.
Simply put, it's gonna vary by state, time of the day, the officers' mood, and the cycle of the moon.
Generally, the way I did it was if I was driving a CDL vehicle, I went throught the weigh station. If the vehicle was under CDL weight (26,001 # GVWR) I bypassed. Some states have signs that specify ALL commercial vehicles, in which case I scaled.
Any vehicle over 26k requires a CDL. There was a post on this a while back, I think it was the 6.0 forum. A guy got stoped in PA. and got a big fine for weight, no CDL, and no log book. He had a new F350 and a fithwheel camper.
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Any vehicle over 26k requires a CDL. There was a post on this a while back, I think it was the 6.0 forum. A guy got stoped in PA. and got a big fine for weight, no CDL, and no log book. He had a new F350 and a fithwheel camper.
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Well thats new. Thought the RVs were still exempt. I never bothered to check as I didn't care.
He gets nailed but neighbor of mine gets warning with cattle he is hauling for hire. Either this guy ticked off PA folks or something.
As far as I know RV's are still exempt. You can't tell me a Provost motor coach weighs less than 26,000, but you don't need a CDL to drive one of those...
The post doesn't say, but could he have been hauling it for someone else for money? Would that trigger the commercial aspect even though it's an RV? Just a thought.
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Any vehicle over 26k requires a CDL. There was a post on this a while back, I think it was the 6.0 forum. A guy got stoped in PA. and got a big fine for weight, no CDL, and no log book. He had a new F350 and a fithwheel camper.
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Then why didn't I get pulled over if this was true?
I'm clearly 5k over 26k and I was weighed as I drove by electronic roadway scales in 7 States, some with cameras, with State Patrol officers with-in 20 miles of most scale houses. I was hauling two of my ag-tractors plus some related equipment.
Why? I'm not commerical!
Doesn't really matter what your hauling as if you answer that question "yes", are you hauling for hire, your commerical and have to comply with the DOT commerical rules.
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Any vehicle over 26k requires a CDL. There was a post on this a while back, I think it was the 6.0 forum. A guy got stoped in PA. and got a big fine for weight, no CDL, and no log book. He had a new F350 and a fithwheel camper.
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i could win this battle in court hands down .... thats ridiculous!!!
On the other thread I read that guy told the PA PUC cop the same thing. The cop said I'll see you in court. I never followed up to see how it went, I just forgot about it until I saw this thread. It might not be right but it's the law.
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