subject: Weigh Stations Use Axle Scales To Determine Safety Of Large Cargo Trucks [print this page] Oftentimes large trucks and commercial vehicles are required to undergo inspection at a weigh station or a checkpoint along a highway designed to inspect and monitor vehicular weights. Weigh stations are equipped with huge industrial scales to take the weights of cargo trucks. Some more modern scaled are designed with the capability to permit trucks to continue moving while being weighed, while older scales require the trucks to stop. There are a variety of scales employed from single axle scales to multi-axle scale sets. Signal lights stationed at the end of the scale indicate to the driver if he or she is requested to pull over for additional inspection or if they are allowed to return to the highway.
All states in the U.S. use portable axle scales, which easily allows for weigh stations to be set up at any point along the highway. These portable scales give states the option of setting up temporary weighing stations for situations such as seasonal check points, and temporary checkpoints. The portable scales also are easily set up on isolated roads that trucks often use to help drivers avoid congestion caused by scales at fixed locations, as well as to prevent drivers from evading required weigh-ins. Portable scales are most commonly set up to monitor trucks during harvest season.
Weigh stations were originally created and implemented to collect road use taxes before IFTA created a more sophisticated streamlined system of collecting these taxes. While taxes are still sometimes collected at weigh stations, their primary function is now to enforce safety regulations. These safety regulations include: checking to ensure the freight carrier is complying with fuel tax laws; checking weight restrictions; checking equipment safety; and checking compliance with Hours of Service Regulations.
Because weigh stations are regulated by individual state governments, they have vastly different requirements from state to state. They are typically operated by the state's Department of Transportation or Department of Motor Vehicles in conjunction with the state highway patrol or state police, thus facilitating the enforcement of any applicable laws. The federal maximum weight is set at 80,000 pounds. Trucks exceeding the federal weight limit can only use the highways if they are issued an overweight permit, but such permits are only issued before the scheduled trip and expire at the end of the trip.
Overweight permits are only issued for loads that cannot be broken down to smaller shipments, and there is no reasonable alternative to moving the cargo by truck. Permitted oversize trucks are often required to coordinate with the Departments of Transportation and law enforcement agencies before the trip begins, as most states require oversize trucks to be escorted.
by: Art Gib
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