Truck Driving Jobs

Retirednavysnipe · #1 05-14-2006, 04:04 PM

Has anyone ever ran into a real bored long winded Scale Operator?

Long story short I was running I believe it was in North Carolina, middle of the night, no traffic whatsoever. I was enjoying the trip. Came to the Scale House sign says open, Cool no problem only have about 15000 lbs of paper towels on board, pull in, dim lights, and pull on scale, get red light for him to weigh me. This scale house had one of the booths where Scale operator is eye to eye with driver. Well DOT asks what I am carrying, I tell him and that starts the conversation. Every thing going great, next thing I know its the weather sports, road conditions, and all other topics. I was in no hurry so I just shot the bull with him. I had to have been on that scale for about 5 minutes until another truck pulls up behind me, then lite turns green, and with a wave and a smile off I go.

That was the most enjoyable scale house I have ever been across. I know he was bored and I was glad to have 5 minutes to kill with him.

Any stories from all of you?

Kintama · #2 05-14-2006, 04:30 PM

I always try to start a coversation about something when I get pulled into the scales. I think if I can get them laughing about something, they might just overloook something :wink:

yoopr · #3 05-14-2006, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retirednavysnipe

Has anyone ever ran into a real bored long winded Scale Operator?

Long story short I was running I believe it was in North Carolina, middle of the night, no traffic whatsoever. I was enjoying the trip. Came to the Scale House sign says open, Cool no problem only have about 15000 lbs of paper towels on board, pull in, dim lights, and pull on scale, get red light for him to weigh me. This scale house had one of the booths where Scale operator is eye to eye with driver. Well DOT asks what I am carrying, I tell him and that starts the conversation. Every thing going great, next thing I know its the weather sports, road conditions, and all other topics. I was in no hurry so I just shot the bull with him. I had to have been on that scale for about 5 minutes until another truck pulls up behind me, then lite turns green, and with a wave and a smile off I go.

That was the most enjoyable scale house I have ever been across. I know he was bored and I was glad to have 5 minutes to kill with him.

Any stories from all of you?

That is always a GOOD thing when they do that.
The more they talk the better off you are-I ALWAYS tried to get them to change the subject on where they were heading for and it paid off mui mucho times.
Practice makes Perfect :P

Roadhog · #4 05-14-2006, 06:15 PM

I'm usually smiling....and hope they can't read lips very well. :? Sometimes...if I sense they are doing the same thing back...I'll speak through my teeth...and wipe the sleep outta my eye, with my middle finger.

rikki_359 · #5 05-15-2006, 07:01 AM

Back in 92 when I went back out on the road with my 5 yr old daughter out of NYC I had picked up a driver in Dallas and gave him a ride home for a few hours sleep. I get to Knoxville scales and still have him on log books, but have dropped him off. The scale guy pulls me to the side for insp, wants to see other driver. We hem hawed for about 20 minutes when I gave in and told him the story. Go in the scale house and my daughter is sitting in his lap and he's teaching her how to do the computer and write up all my tickets. He was really nice. I'm out of hours so they down me there. I asked about a bathroom for daughter and me and he says I can go to the TSA and a lady cop escorts me there and tells me when I can leave. Another scalehouse guy was furious b'cause they let me go to the truck stop. I never moved till it was ok and you couldn't have paid me to move. We showered and ate and even slept. He was so nice. And when I told my boss about it, he paid my tickets. It could have been a miserable stop, but turned out nice. Some of them are ok ppl in my book.

BanditsCousin · #6 05-15-2006, 06:56 PM

NC scalehouse let me run 82,000 gross after redlighting me and asking "what do you REALLY weigh". I told them I was full of fuel and just trying to get home to my wife (even though I don't have one). Sometimes they have a heart, sometimes their heads are up their bums.

Colin · #7 05-16-2006, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BanditsCousin

NC scalehouse let me run 82,000 gross after redlighting me and asking "what do you REALLY weigh". I told them I was full of fuel and just trying to get home to my wife (even though I don't have one). Sometimes they have a heart, sometimes they actually enforce the regulations.

There. Fixed it for you... :P

BanditsCousin · #8 05-16-2006, 05:42 PM

Thank you Colin. 8)

Uturn2001 · #9 05-17-2006, 01:21 AM

For a change of pace I ran up 287 one night from Ft Collins to Laramie to catch I 80 coming out of Denver. When I got to the scale house it was open (about 2 am local) and got pulled in for a level 3 inspection. Ended up spending about 45 minutes there talking to the officer on duty. In the end was given a good job, have a great night and sent on my way.

Windwalker · #10 05-17-2006, 06:25 AM

Asks for my log book, and as he's opening it, he asks "How are you doing?"

Well, I figured I was doing all right, but I expect you could correct me...

Shoulders start bouncing, grin spreads, he closes log book and hands it back. "Have a safe trip."

Shoulders still bouncing as he walks back into the scale house.

It must have been just the right thing at the right time to tickle his "funny-bone".