Question:
Sometimes you may have to use Public Scales.(and although these scales may not always be Certified....it's still better than No scales..at least these scales will give you an "Idea" of your weight until you can get to a Certified scale.)
The following is a partial list of Privately-Owned Public Scales:
Public Scales in California(click here)
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Ask someone at the place that loaded you...Where the closest place to Scale.
Inform dispatch that you did not notice a place to scale.(maybe they'll be able to tell you where to scale it.)
Look in the local phone book where you loaded at under "Public Scales".
Industrial Parks/Other Warehouses...sometimes these places will allow you to use their scales to weigh your load even though you did not p/u there.
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I'll give someone else a chance to ADD to the list.
Of course, whenever possible try to weigh at a Cat Scale(click here) -->
If you can not find a Cat Scale...then go to a different Certified Scale.
If you can Not find a Certified Scale, then go to ANY Available scale for the time being.

Answer:
Some moving compaines have scales that they will let you use. These are generally the larger ones with a large terminal such as some Mayflower's, Atlas, etc.
Grain Elevators often times have scales and will let you use them.
While CAT scales are the best known....INTERSTATE Scales are also a very good scale to weigh on. The offer the same garuntee as CAT scales but the best part about them is unlike CAT scales they do not charge for a reweigh if you need one. Just like CAT scales they are found at truck stops around the nation.
In the search for scales one of the best things I ever did was to purchase a truck stop guide. While these will not list every privately owned scale in any given area it does list the majority of truck stops across the country and can help in a big way. It also comes in very handy when planning your meal and rest stops during your trip.
Only two things I know of are infinite. The universe and human stupidity, and I am not real sure about the universe.
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Answer:
If the Bills of Lading state that the weight is more than 30,000 lbs. I'm headed for the nearest scale!
With my truck, I can put about 46,000 in the box (when dragging a high cube 53' van, with the tandems tucked all the way up under)
A good idea is to fill your tanks, hook to a common trailer (say a empty 53'er) and drag it across the nearest scale.
That way you have a good idea as to what your truck & trailer weigh!
$7.50 plus 2 reweighs at a buck a piece, is a hell of a lot cheaper than an overweight fine!
For each notch that you slide your tandems, figure 250 to 300 lbs (as a rule of thumb).
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"I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane!" (from Waylon Jennings)
"The feel of the wheel delivers me, from a life where I don't wanna be." (from Joe Stampley)

Answer:
Originally posted by Hoss:
If the Bills of Lading state that the weight is more than 30,000 lbs. I'm headed for the nearest scale!
With my truck, I can put about 46,000 in the box (when dragging a high cube 53' van, with the tandems tucked all the way up under)
A good idea is to fill your tanks, hook to a common trailer (say a empty 53'er) and drag it across the nearest scale.
That way _you have a good idea_ as to what your truck & trailer weigh!
$7.50 plus 2 reweighs at a buck a piece, is a hell of a lot cheaper than an overweight fine!
For each notch that you slide your tandems, figure 250 to 300 lbs (as a rule of thumb).
*******************************
_"I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane!"_ _(from Waylon Jennings)_
_"The feel of the wheel delivers me, from a life where I don't wanna be."_ _(from Joe Stampley)_
Since Hoss brought it up about the 30,000 lb rule of thumb many truckers use I want to point out that like most "rules of thumbs" this one to needs to be used in conjunction with some common sense. One thing to always remember is that there is no law that garuntees the BOL weight must be accurate, so don't automatically trust it. I can't begin to tell you how many times I have picked up a load that said 45,000 lbs on the bills and went and scaled it and axled out at 65,000 lbs or pick up a load that said 30,000 lbs and axled out at 79,000 or more.
When using this rule of thumb look at what it is that you are loading. If you are loading styrofoam cups you can be pretty sure that you will be fairly light, but if you are picking up pallets of potting soil you can bet on being heavy.
The best advice I have when it comes to newbies and scaling loads is this two parter.....
1. Scale everything until you get to know generally what different products weigh and how your truck reacts to how things are loaded on it.
2. When in doubt always scale it out.
Like ol' Hoss says. $10 or $12 in scale tickets, which for company drivers most companies will reimburse, is a lot cheaper than those over weight tickets.
Only two things I know of are infinite. The universe and human stupidity, and I am not real sure about the universe.
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Answer:
might be in Metric...therefore you'll need to Convert it.
Metric Conversion Table(click here)

Answer:
I once had a 25,000 lb. load - all stacked in the first half of the trailer, the rest being empty. Why the loader did it this way I do not know. By the time I got to the scales and found I was overweight on the drives, the company I picked up from had closed and would not be open unitl the next morning. So, dropped trailer in parking lot, opened doors, attached chain to pallets, hooked to front of tractor and pulled them toward the rear of the trailer. Put load locks on floor between pallets to prevent them from sliding forward when stopping. Worked just fine. I carry three 25ft. lengths of 1/4" chain with hooks on the end for just this purpose.
I have had to do this several times in the last couple years.
“Flying an airplane is hours and hours of boredom punctuated by a few moments of sheer terror” - Ernest Gann – Author/Pilot
“Driving a truck is hours and hours of sheer terror punctuated by a few moments of boredom” – Skogie


Answer:
When you get overloaded and because of the circumstances. I.E. shipper closed or are closing, having to wait 5hrs for reload and boss says you will be late, etc. If you dont want to run illegal, and you shouldnt. But the boss man says run it, they will take a chance (meaning scales might be closed). Get it on the QUALLCOMM so you have backup when you are caught and the safety director starts yelling.
This way you can tell him to stick it when they say you have to pay the $1500 fine.
RookieTrucker

Answer:
Originally posted by rookiehelper:
When you get overloaded and because of the circumstances. I.E. shipper closed or are closing, having to wait 5hrs for reload and boss says you will be late, etc. If you dont want to run illegal, and you shouldnt. But the boss man says run it, they will take a chance (meaning scales might be closed). Get it on the QUALLCOMM so you have backup when you are caught and the safety director starts yelling.
This way you can tell him to stick it when they say you have to pay the $1500 fine.
http://www.rookietrucker.com
Rookie, did you know that some states are beginning to make it a crimminal offense for running over weight. So now instead of just getting a fine you now face a potential crimminal charge that could potentially ruin your driving career.
Since some states have started to issue penalties greater than a slap in the wallet I can see many more states following suit in the months and years to come.
Only two things I know of are infinite. The universe and human stupidity, and I am not real sure about the universe.
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Answer:
Wow, thanks for saying that. I came off the road over a year ago to work locally as a Tanker man.
My, things have changed.
Well, newbies this is how one learns. This is the best place to learn in my book.
Thx, Uturn

Answer:
Even after years of doing this the only thing a smart driver learns is how much more he has to learn. Lord knows I learn something new everyday....sometimes twice a day.
The only thing that stays the same is the change. It is tough to keep up with all the changing regs out there and the changes in the penalties etc. Especially when dealing with at least 49 different sources of them. (Federal and 48 states).....not to mention the Canadian laws.
They should issue heavy duty headache medicine with the log books and rule book.....not to mention a 50 gallon drum of white out. -->
Only two things I know of are infinite. The universe and human stupidity, and I am not real sure about the universe.
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Answer:
Simplest way yet is to spend a couple of bucks and install an air pressure guage in your air suspension on your tractor AND your trailer(s) if dedicated. I have NEVER been out by more than 300 pounds using this system. I can't believe an O/O in today's world wouldn't have one on the tractor. --> -->

Answer:
Originally posted by michaelgower:
Simplest way yet is to spend a couple of bucks and install an air pressure guage in your air suspension on your tractor AND your trailer(s) if dedicated. I have NEVER been out by more than 300 pounds using this system. I can't believe an O/O in today's world wouldn't have one on the tractor. --> -->
I've seen that setup. I met a driver for KTL the other day who showed me a similar setup on his. He said he can tell at a glance if he's loaded right before he even leaves the yard. --> -->
Food for thought.
My other vehicle is a '99 Electra Glide!!!!--> --> -->
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I ride for those who can't! POW/MIA - You are NOT forgotten!!
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