It does not seem to be understood that all states have their own individual laws, and in some cases not enforced. Hot shot trucks like mine go past the Alabama scales every day (wonder how I know that) and never get chased. In Georgia they also go by at some scales. Every week I pass the Eastbound scale at Atlanta empty and pass the Westbound scale in Alabama loaded or empty. Got tired of being inspected regularly so just stopped going on the Scale.

That being said, the law in Alabama and I think also Georgia is all trucks and commercial vehicles. The comment was made that bobtail tractors don't stop in Illinois. Well the sign says over 8 ton must stop. That is 16,000 pounds and a bobtail tractor is borderline.

Remember that though, each state has a different vehicle code and a different standard for scales. That used to be the way with length limits until DOT stepped in and made a minimum that the states could enforce. Of course that only applies to a tractor and semi trailer, if you are not that, the length limits are all different also.

Sometimes you just have to do what the "good ole boys" from the local area are doing. One day I will get stopped for passing the Alabama scale, it will be expensive, but over two years of passing it have paid the fine for me. I was getting a DOT check twice a month, now do not.

Unless you really know the area and the particular scale involved, I would definately not recommend going past it or is some cases around it. A pretty good guide to the scales and law in the verious states is the truckers Rand McNally map book in a truck stop. It will tell you where the scales are, the road load weights, restricted roads and much more info.

 

Haulin' there are laws in your area for going around a scale??? IE. intentionally getting off at say an exit before a scale and detouring to miss it???

Just curious..................

Of course I have never used that strategy before.

 

If they catch you overweight on the back road, yes they can write you for going around. But that is the game. I go around a bunch of them, don't like scales. I use US29 so much going around the I85 scale in Georgia that the Sheriff waves when I go by. They must think there is a car lot that uses me in Grantsville....

Hope one of them suckers don't have a Dodge and use the board

 

I have a DTR NOT FOR HIRE sticker on my GN trailer. Have never stopped at scales or been stopped. Not sure that the sign has anything to do with it or not.

 

My Mom works for the Federal DOT. She says that you only have to pull in if you are a commercial company. The feds only mess with companies that go out of state, not intrastate companies. I mean, if you are worried about having to pull in or not, just drive by it. They have people sitting in the scale houses that watch for semis that skip the scales. If they find one skipping, they send out a cruiser after him. So if you pass one, and no cruiser comes behind you and pulls you over, you'll be fine.... Just my .02.

 

Our truck's commercial and if I don't have the trailer I don't stop. If they want to chase me down they must pretty good eye sight (to see my sticker) and be pretty bored.