I just got a gooseneck to haul my tractors on. I have been doing a lot of reading on trailer weight and GVWR and all that. I want to run over to a CAT scale and get weighted but have never done that before. I don't know if you need to pay or what the "etiquette" is. Can anyone fill me in? Thanks

swordfish

 

you usaully talk to them on the c.cb but if you go in and pay first then go way shouldnt be a problem

 

Most truck stops that have scales charge $7.00. You just pull up, tell them your truck # over the speaker or sometimes a phone handset, and follow their instructions. When you are done, go inside to the fuel counter, tell them your truck # again, they will collect your money and give you a printout of your weight.
Another little tidbit you may or may not want to do is go to a cheap magnetic sign making place, and have them make a couple "Not For Hire" magnetics to hang on your truck when you are pulling your trailer.
I used to get hassled every once in a while when I had my 32' goose and a couple tractors on the deck. The signs stopped that.

 

Another thing I have done many times is pull into a closed DOT scale. The scale is usally left on and nobody has ever bothered me to roll accross and weigh.

Lots of gravel pits or feed mills will often let you weigh for a small charge as well.

 

All the local elevators around here leave the scales on 24-7. I just go threw at night while they are closed and see what it says.

 

Ok...pardon my ignorance HotRodTod, but Truck number? All the information has been a great help and I appreciate it. Thanks

swordfish

 

A lot of truck stops always ask for your company name and truck #. They don't realize your driving a private vehicle. Just make up a number like nine hundred thirty six billion and sixty eight cents. They will get the idea your a private vehicle

 

When I weigh I just give them my name and the truck number is always 1. Another tidbit is that Cat Scales will let you reweigh for $1 within 24 hours. So I weigh my trailer/truck combo then go unhook from the trailer and weigh just the truck. That way I can figure my hitch weight.

 

As we don't have to pay at the provincial weigh stations that,s what I do.