I have never stopped at scales when traveling but am thinking i am running on thin ice now that i am running a DOT sign and need to start. What exactly do they do when you go thru these scales? is there any type paper work check or ? what do they do if they stop you for "blowing by" ?

 

bump where are all the hotshotters ?

 

Out burning that $3.00 a gallon fuel.


phox

 

Why are you running a DOT sign now and not before? I have never stopped while running my camper with 2500 Dodge however. I always stop Win I drive the dully pulling a 40' goose neck or the 35' flat bid. All I do is pull up to the stop sign stop thin pull on to the scales thin the light turns green and off I go. The only time the state Man needs your paper work is win your over loaded so you can pay the fines. Good luck on not getting the O/L fines Thay hurtAnd now fuel almost $3.oo gal That hurts moor.

 

Here in Washington State, only vehicles licensed for 16000# and more have to pull into scale houses.

When I am loaded with camper and boat, I like to pull into them when they are closed and see how much the rig weighs. I never pull into them when they are open.

 

It will still tell your weight when they're closed? I've never been in a weigh station before so i'm not real keen on how they work...It would be nifty to see what I weigh.

 

You better stop if running DOT.
You'd better weigh your rig, that big trailer loaded with carriages and now a sleeper??
A 3/4 ton can only go about 1500-2000 lb. more on the rear axle. You look to be more than that loaded. I've never been fined for over weight but I hear it's like $2 per lb, so 1000 over would cost $2000.???? I replied to your exhaust brake post, get 1 you'll like it.

 

SO HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF I AM OVER WEIGHT BEFORE INTRODUCING MYSELF TO THEM AND GETTING A FINE ?

 

get on a cat scale at a truck stop, or go to your local feed store if they have a scale...

 

been stopped three times in the past year and have been told that if your truck and trailers gross weight capacity exceeds 10001 lbs you are required to have a dot number and chaufers licence. if you exeed 26000 you have to have a cdl licence.

that means that a 1/2 ton truck with a gross carring capacity of 6500# and a tandam utility trailer with a gross carring capacity of 7000# totals 13500. Bingo !! you now are required to have a DOT#

 

ok get on a scale at a truck stop---how do you determine if you are within specs?

 

Herb, stop by your local Highway patrol division and ask to speak to whomever is over the commercial/ interstate dept. And explain to them what you do and what equipment you use and they will give you all the help you need. Commercial Driver License is for anyone who is in the capacity of commerce {hence the name} and also for any one who operates a commerce vehicle regardless of weight and also for anyone who operates a vehicle that weighs 26001 lbs or more or a from state to state combined weight is a issue. I again suggest to drop in on your local State patrol, Highway patrol, Dept. Of Transportation Etc. Etc. Goodluck,,,Rick

 

to date i have only been advised that the need for a CDL is determined by weight, my daughter just attended a dot seminar. this is where we were advised that a sleeper was not allowed on a trailer.

 

If you run commercial. You must stop at the scales.
If you run private, you don't need to stop.
Regardless of weight.

I run private up to 26k and never stop at the scales, I know a couple people that did stop and caught heck for stopping!

Herb,
Hauling all those carriages on that big trailer you definately look commercial. Simpler and cheaper to keep your operation private. You are just taking your carriages to a show, not delivering them to a customer!

You must still obey the weight limits. DOT can stop and check you anytime and if you are involved in an accident and overweight you will be at fault.

Just weigh your rig on the scales and make sure your axle weight and gvw weight are within the limits. The axle weight is posted on the driver door and the trailer weight is posted on the vin tag. You also must be registered for the weight you are hauling. If your truck is 8800 gvw and trailer is 14000 gvw you must be registered for 22,800.
I'm registered for 26k and pay $405 per year. You should be some where near that. Over 17,000 you also need a medical card.
If you are commercial you also need commercial insurance, $10,000 year. You must keep logs and all the other ...... that goes with it.

 

I have a NOT FOR HIRE magnet on my GN and have been all over the east coast and into Canada hauling tractors. I have never stopped at scales and have never been stopped. Whether the sign has anything to do with it or not, I don't know. Could be just luck.