What exactly happens when you are pulled into weigh station
 

When I was OTR with Schneider a lot of my loads where out of the way of weigh stations, therefore I would pull through a scale maybe once a week and many times i could bypass the scales with PREPASS but now I have to drive through scales pretty much 2 times a day, once in Ohio and once in Michigan every night which is more than I am use to.

I have had the green light every time but I was just curiuos about exactly what happens if you get the red light and have to pull into the weigh station. I know they can ask for your logbook,medical card and CDL.

How intrusive are they into your logs?
Do they only flash red lights if you are overwieght?
Under what circumstances can they keep you from leaving?
What kinds of tickets and fines are common and how much do they cost?
If your tandems are not in the right hole what happens?

Re: What exactly happens when you are pulled into weigh stat
 

They'll go back 7 days. They may check your math for errors. They also have software for street level address to street level address. Another words, they can check your mileage from your starting point to the scale, and if they want to, check all the mileages for the past seven days. You may also be asked for toll tickets to check the time against your log. With everything else looking good, if that toll does not match your log, you're OOS.

They can flash the red at you anytime they get curious. Or, you may simply get lucky and be one of "every tenth truck".


Flat tire, air leak, fuel leak, falsification of log, and any violation that calls for an OOS.


I've never had a fine at a scale in OH or MI, but I've seen a few tickets other drivers have gotten in AR, IL, VA, and CA. I've gotten a ticket in VA for being 1,100 over on my drives and could not correct it. (Picked the load up at a freightliner dealership from another driver who was broke down. Didn't have to go far, just the other side of the scale.) $58. Only overweight I have ever had.

I've seen tickets that other drivers have gotten in WI, $1,100. In KS, $155. In IL, $1,400. In CA, $2.300. In ME, $3,700. (The driver that came back from ME with the $3,700 was asked for his toll tickets. He handed them all over, nearly a dozen, and all but 2 did not match his log.)


I've never had MI enforce the bridge law, but from what I've seen, in that part of the country, being in the wrong hole would mean you are heavy on one set of tandems. It also means a ticket. I have no idea what the fine is per pound, per hundred pounds or how they go. In VA, you have one hour to get your axles legal. If you can not make them legal, you get a fine. If you make them legal, you're free to go. But, if you get pulled around back for that, you better make certain ALL YOUR DUCKS ARE IN A ROW. They may look at everything else too.

I work for SNI and I get the red light occasionally, just follow the signs and roll through. Never had my log books or documentation checked.
Its probably a good idea though to pull in with a yellow light and if the station is open and you get no light at all, its not a bad idea to pull in as well.

Weigh Station/Scale House/POE
 

What can keep you from being pulled around back is if ALL lights work, ALL mudflaps are in place, NO crap on the dash, your rig looks clean and mechanically sound, everything else considered.
The Texas scale on I-10 WB, just west of Brookshire, let me go without checking a thing 'cause a raggedy looking O/O pulled in behind me. Appearance can be everything. BOL

Do they look up trucks on their number and pull over those who have been fined or cited in the past for a complete inspection?

They CAN if they want.

Thanks for all the responses :lol:

I better start keeping my log books up to date. The scales are on I-75 just before you get to Toledo and the one right after you cross into Michigan. I figure it is a matter of time before I get a red light considering the fact that I have to go through 2 scales almost every night.

I heard if an O/O gets a bad reputation for being overweight, log book violations, or running a piece of junk that they would pull you over.

Well yeah charged, wouldn't you pull over a truck that you know has a rep for being put OOS? The local's around me always love to go after the log haulers because it is usually an easy overweight ticket. They also like to get the local trash haulers coming out of DC where the trucks are POS' with half the lights not working and mirrors missing.

One of the worst places to get stopped is in Stafford, VA by the locals. I have yet to see a truck that they stop not leave on it's own. Everyone has had the hook called on it. They have 2 officers and 1 Fire Marshall that is DOT certified and they have called the hook on trucks with a fire extinguisher that was not charged. Those 3 guys mean business and when interviewed by the local paper, they sounded like a couple of Super Troopers. :lol:

For me, at least, they generally take a cursory glance at my logs and then appear confused when they look at my Hazardous Waste Manifest. This is Texas scales.

Louisiana is almost always "pull across the scale and go ahead."

Yesterday I was running a four-placard load from Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. I was carrying varying amounts of:

Class 3 Combustible
3 Flammable
4.1 Flammable Solid
4.2 Spontaneously Combustible
4.3 Water-reactive
5.1 Oxidizer
5.2 Organic peroxide
6 Toxic
8 Corrosive
Class 9 3082
Class 9 3077 (bulk)

I was placarded:

3 Flammable (this covers combustible)
4.3 Dangerous When Wet (5 lbs, but you placard any quantity)
Class 9 3077 (2550 lbs bulk containers)
Dangerous

Dangerous covered the 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 6, 8, 9 (non-bulk drums/boxes) because although the aggregate weight was over 1,000lbs, I didn't have over 1,000 lbs of any of the individual classes.

We have a DOT exemption to carry all the classes in the same transport vehicle with certain packaging and segregation restrictions.

My manifest was 9 pages long. :twisted:


I got stopped at the scale in Refugio on 77 and the scale near El Campo on 59.

The second stop at the El Campo scale was no biggee- a quick glance at the log, open the side door so they can look at my fire extinguisher, and a glance at the manifest. The three DPS officers talked a bit about the placards.

The first stop was the Spanish Inquisition.

"Where are you going?"
"Where'd you come from"
"Shipping papers?"
"What placards are on your truck?" (???)
"Why do you have those placards?" (told him what I just told you)
"Is is secured properly?"
"Do you have your DOT Exemption letter?"
"Are you carrying any explosives or munitions?"
"Medical card?"
"Log book?"
"Extra bulbs and fuses?"
"Fire extinguisher?"
"DOT haz-mat permit?"
"Insurance?"
"Cab card?"

And on and on . . .

"Average rainfall in the Amazon Basin?" (not really)

Then I got a level 1.

Then I was free to go. I ALWAYS have all of my paperwork clipped together in my big metal clipboard so I don't have to dig.

Got a quick papers check today in Refugio as well. YMMV.

-p.

Ohio is bad because they "double" fine you--- they fine the company, which the company takes out of your paycheck( cause they arn't in business to loose money) and then the State of Ohio sends you a fine/bill to your home address against your CDL--- thus you pay double in Ohio.

Pa you will pay the fine+ contribute to several county service funds like 911, rural amblance service, volenteer fire department, etc----all right there on the ticket before the grand total- and you don't have a choice.

They definately do that. if a carrier has a lot of violations , they will keep an eye out for any truck bearing that name & want to check it out.

no, but a good way to avoid getting pulled onto the main scale after going over the gross scale is to make sure you leave that 100' space between you and the guy ahead of you. that allows it time to reset. they get a little pissy when you don't and might make you come in even when you're empty. :wink:

When this one guy I know bounces from water to water in 3 days, he tends to get a lot of red lights :wink:

Mayflower used to have a bad DOT rating up until last year, so those guys got hassled a lot.

When me and Teal95KW were doing a cannonball run from the west we both got called in at the MO scale in Joplin. Me (United) rolled through, but they stopped Teal (Atlas). Prior to me and Teal getting in the scale lane, we blew the doors off a North American truck with a tailgate (a no-no in MO) and the made Teal stop his azz end at the scale window thinking it was him. I'm guessing there is a camera there before the scale lane.

I try to do 5mph under the SL when I go through the prepass as well.

Nothing happens to me. When I get the red light I use my super secret cell phone to call a U.S. Marshall and I usually get let go. DOT cop ain't got nothing on a U.S. Marshall

The biggest factor for getting "pulled" into an inspection, is a company's ISS rating with the DOT. Ig your company has an ISS rating of say 79, and your truck looks like a piece of crap as it rolls across the scale...you can figure on an inspection. If that ISS score is 98, and your truck loks like it is brand new...you can figure on an inspection.

If your driving an older truck that is clean and looks well kept, and your ISS score is 34...your going to get the green light and a "Hi" sign.



Now learn what ISS means !!! :twisted: :twisted: :lol:

" . . what happens if you get the red light and have to pull into the weigh station . . ?"

Most likely, you will slowly roll across the scale and be on your merry way.

It's been 494 or 495 days (didn't we just have a leap year?) since I've been invited inside a scale house.

These are the reasons they give you a red light on the prepass. When I got my own prepass the first weigh station I came upon gave me a red light but then then they sent me through the bypass lane. I logged into my account to see wtf was up and it was because of a lane straddle. Apparently I wasn't perfectly in the lane. It also tell me the weight on my account and sometimes those weigh in motion scales can be really inaccurate. 8) 8)

Pull in Reason Codes:

Lane Straddle – The vehicle was in-between the lines.

ICN – The site was not able to communicate the signal with the device during the bypass transaction.

100% Pull-In – The site turned the weigh station to a 100% pull-in so all trucks must pull-in

Random Pull-in – This comes from the Random pull-in rate

VCRHazmat – The Vehicle was pulled in for Hazmat

VCRSafety – The Vehicle was pulled in for Safety

VCRAnts – The Vehicle was pulled in for Ants (This should only apply to AZ)

VCROther - Some other random pull-in rate was applied

Gross Weight – The Vehicles Gross registered weight during the weigh in motion was greater than the Vehicle’s declared weight

Axle Weight – The weight on the Vehicle’s axles registered during the bypass transactions exceeded the allowable axle weight.

Tandem Weight – The tandem weight of the Vehicle registered during the bypass transaction exceeded the allowable tandem weight

Steering Axle Weight – The Steering axle Weight of the vehicle registered during the bypass transaction exceeded the allowable Steering axle weight

Bridge Formula –The distribution of weight between the vehicle’s axles is not in compliance with the site’s bridge formula requirements.

Preverif – One or more of the vehicle’s credentials has not been verified by the State.

mcReg – The vehicle’s registration is in an invalid status or does not have the respective jurisdiction state (according to the verification process)

vehReg – The vehicle is in an invalid status (as verified by the State).

mcFut - The vehicle’s IFTA is in an invalid status or the vehicle does not have an IFTA and it is required.

mcHazmat – The vehicles Hazmat credential is in an invalid status (according to the verification process).For Virginia only: If the carrier is flagged as a Hazmat, Hazwaste, or Flammable Liquid Tanker hauler and the site is currently screening for Hazmat the vehicle will be pulled in.

mcTax – The vehicle’s NM Tax credential is in an invalid status (as verified by the State) or the vehicle is missing the required NM Tax credential.

Safety – The vehicles safety pull-in rate is 100% so the vehicle was pulled in for safety.

Account – The Carrier’s account status is in an invalid/inactive account status.

Unbalanced Load – Typically used for liquid tankers where the cargo is only partially full and the liquid is moving unevenly over the scale.

Overheight – The height of the Vehicle surpasses the maximum allowable height for the state.

Overweight – The weight of the Vehicle surpasses the maximum allowable weight for the state.

Ok, how about some practical advise:

1) don't roll down the hi-way with missing mudflaps or flat tires or lights burnt out----- these little things are easy ways to get flagged for inspection- including your log book + med certificate.

2) keep your truck clean and your dash un-cluttered; dirty trucks get inspected more often than clean one's-- they figure you've been running so hard- you probably don't take time for maintence or to catch up the comic book.

3) When you roll into the scale house; STOP before you roll onto their scale- if you run up on it and slam on the brakes-- you can damage it's calibration-- and they will get very pissed at you--- you'll get to come around back and do an inspection just for spite.

4) turn off the radio, cb, turn off the headlights(unless there's a sign that actually instructs you to turn them on), roll down your window so you can
hear their instructions. and watch the lights.

5) If they instruct you to "pull around back and bring in your -"paperwork" or "bills" or "permit book" or any combination of these--- without specifically asking for YOUR LOG BOOK. DON't dig any holes deeper for yourself. You can always go back to the rig for it......take them just what they ask for --- no more , no less.

If someone-- is standing out there with a mechanic's creeper and flags you to park. Don't undo your seat belt until he steps up to your door, make him aware you're wearing it--- or ask him first if it's ok to release it.

I made the above mistake once pulling into a Arkansas scale- after being flagged to park for an inspection. I released my belt, so I could lean forward and grab my log book off the dash(it had slid too far over to reach easy)
when he came to the door and OPENED IT-- himself-- first thing he asked is Why arn't you wearing your seat belt? I almost got nailed right there.

I got stopped for the wonderful California Bridge Law at the 3d California scale house I had gone through. First two said nothing..

Ya never know where or when they will look up and say hey to ya....

Ah yes, those hazmat ping pong ball loads.

Does anyone get asked about things like having a FMCSA handbook in your truck or checking to see if you're in a drug consortium, etc.

ive been pulled in for an inspection once. guy didnt even ask for my logbook.
been pulled in for a random paperwork check once.
guy looked at todays logpage and glanced at yestterdays and sent me on my way with a "have a safe trip"

the key is, ALWAYS have all paperwork in order. I.E registration , insurance, etc.
book and license ready to go and a refreshed and pleasant look on your face.

keep the attitude and the comedic small talk in the truck. they dont need to see that

Jeez, you guys have it easy- do to all the haz-mat I haul I get an inspection generally 1 or 2 times a month. Usually a level 1 or 2 but they throw a level 4 in there every so often. I ALWAYS get my paperwork checked anytime coops are open an working (as opposed to just rolling you through).

. . . And Louisiana scales are really big on checking my registration and lease agreement lately since I'm in a leased truck until the end of the year when we get our new Petes.

Here's a good question: What's the longest you've been in a coop for an inspection (and I'm talking for the inspection process only- not counting being taken out of service waiting for a tire or repair guy)?. My personal best is almost 3 hours front-to-back, top-to-bottom in Riviera, TX. After all of that all I got a cite for was "wiring not secured in a workmanlike manner" - a midship trailer turn signal had a wire not zip-tied and was hanging down 3"-4" behind the signal. Kinda chicken$#!+ if you ask me.

-p.

do any of you have medical card that has a laminated top to it?? When i applied at millis they sent me a medical that had 3 copies and the drivers copy had a part that was laminated and if you didnt the carbon would mess it all up. School says dot will give you a fit about a laminated dot card. Is that true?? should i go back to concentra where i got it and have another card issued to me? or is this is the thing about the lamination phony bolonga?

I think, but don't hold me to it because it was 4 years ago, but my CDL manual said that the medical card could not be laminated. I so want to laminate mine because if I don't take my wallet out of my pocket and get to sweating, everything gets wet and nasty in it.

stop walk in drop pants/shorts bend over and grab ankles :shock: :cry: :lol:

Yes or no answers, be polite but not condesending, keep the cab looking clean.
.....and run legal!
If not:

My mediacal card is laminated. I have been inspected twice this year with no problems.

Re: What exactly happens when you are pulled into weigh stat
 

Which raises the question, "why would you log going through a toll booth?" No change in duty status (still driving) and I can find no requirement that passing through a toll booth requires flagging. Unless I'm missing something. But then, I've never flagged a tollbooth in my logs, and my company has never said a word. I notate all changes in duty status, but that's about it. Sometimes, for a quick Vehicle Check stop of less than 7 minutes, I will just flag it -- otherwise I just log it to the closest 15 minute mark.

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regul...?section=395.8

Re: What exactly happens when you are pulled into weigh stat
 

Re-read the bold part. You don't log going through the toll booth BUT if you say go through a toll booth at 12:30pm and you show on your log that you were in the sleeper berth at 12:30pm in a different city, then you are in violation. That is what he meant by not matching.

in the winter of 2001, i was hauling drilling equipment from Midland, TX to Sacramento, CA. after some major mechanical problems, in NV, i thought the trip was almost done. the truck and flatbed trailer were vey old, and the machine i was hauling was old and dirty, oily, etc. it was snowing VERY hard,as i pulled to the scalehouse in Truckee, CA. the light was green, so i continued on..... apparently, i had somehow missed the red light. maybe because of the snow. as i was pulling off, i saw the cop coming. when i stopped, he gave me a severe ass chewing. screaming, yelling..... :shock: said that i should have heard his orders on my CB.... the CB was broken. after returning for the inspection, they found something like 10 violations, most of which i had never heard of. i received several tickets, and was told i would have to park the truck, until the problems were corrected. the told me i could go...i called for a cab... they were unable to run because of the snow. after spending most of the night at the scalehouse, one of the officers offered to take me down the mountain, on her way home. i had to spend several days there snowed in at the hotel. i was finally able to rent a 4x4 and drive down off the mountain. i never saw that truck again.
SAM

Re: What exactly happens when you are pulled into weigh stat
 

Ya, I've reread the bold part a dozen times, and it still looks like the driver was logging toll booths. But I can see where that might not be what was meant.

I just HAD to chime in here:

What exactly happens when you are pulled in:

1st - before you even get onto the scale, you start to think to yourself: is my logbook legal, am I legal weight wise, are there any lights that i "forgot" to replace...etc...

2nd- as you roll across the scale: You continue to go over, in your head, if they DOT guy is going to have a 50 lb badge and be Billy BO Bad-ASS COP.....or will you soon get the green....

3rd- Depending if you wind up inside for something stupid like "get that mudflap looked at" or..."How could you get from Atlanta to Memphis in 2 hours"

keep stuff off the dash, keep your truck clean, always be safe and legal and you will never have to feel the wrath of the DOT.

That is just too dang simple!!!

only weight station ticket i ever got so far was in conneticut on the hill off I 91. they were rollin everyone thru and when i got to the scale he was standing there and wanted to see my log real quick... whoops. didnt fill it out for that day.. (local job started at 6am in nj it was 930 now in ct) told him i wanted to beat the nyc traffic and planned to update as soon as i got to my stop in 45 mins. made me pull aside told me to do the log and handed me a 100 dollar ticket. his words. "this is a lesson learned take 5 minutes and do the log in the morning." yes sir.. was on my way in 20 minutes..

i run the i95 scales in maryland (perryville) everyday but always get the "proceed to I95" light. we had a driver overweight today on that scale, he was sitting there when i rolled thru. im not sure what they did to him. he ran 20 skids of shingles the max is supposed to be 18 at 48,800. i guess the company tried to pull a sneaky one and get a extra 2 skids goin.

my 1st time i was pulled in was in WY my stepdeck was empty, my brother in law was empty, and 2 vans we were all together. My paper work was looked over. had to go back get the log book, it was fanned open just to see in any pages were mark. I asked why me and was told "the luck of the draw son"

I usually start sweating, heart rate goes up, my muscles in my butt tense up, i put a death grip on the steering wheel, i grind every gear atleast twice before i remember to put the selector down, then kill it, and have to restart it.

no seriously......the more 'professional' you look, the odds are against you that you'll get pulled around. My first mentor, i could not believe he didnt get pulled around. His dash was a mess, he never brushed his hair, etc. He looked like a BUM. His truck was never clean, windshield was always caked with 2 week old dead bugs.

Granted my truck has almost 6000 miles on it now....i always keep my dash clear, windows clean, etc. Now granted, you might be that unlucky 10th driver to pass thru...but odds are if your truck looks like its on its last leg, or u look like a bum, or the DOT guy/gal inside can tell the inside of your truck is dirty from 1/4 mile away....you'll probably get pulled around.

that is correct........

THAT IS CORRECT.....




oh and one last thing....i have been pulled around once, this was JUST inside New Mexico...forget what interstate (I-29?) but was coming out of Pueblo, headed for Amarillo, and my IFTA sticker was missing, and it was January 3rd. I had the paperwork for the sticker, just no sticker. The lady at Swift said "in lieu of the sticker, this would get you by till you got to another terminal".

Anyways, without hesitation i take in my logbook, permit book and BOLs, so if they wanted to see anything, i had it. Figure if i take everything in, it would show i have nothing to hide....

See...your way to comfortable with the big hiway. Out of Pueblo....US50 east to Lamar CO...south on US287 to Amarillo. Nicer drive. Shorter drive. 2 scales..Lamar CO and Boise City OK. I see both closed more than I see them open.