Do trucks really have to stop at weigh stations?
When traveling on the highway, you might have noticed that there are signs for weigh stations along the way. If you are a business owner looking for a reliable trucking company, you might also have come across weigh stations and wondered about them. Do trucks have to stop at weigh stations? We’ll answer these questions and more below!
Why Do Trucks Have to Stop at Weigh Stations?
Trucks originally had to stop at these scale houses for tax purposes. Many states to this day collect taxes from truckers based on their vehicle’s gross weight. However, they are also for ensuring the safety of the trucks on the road based on their weight. If the truck is overloaded, it is more at risk of causing an accident and injuring or killing others on the road. Weigh stations check that trucks fulfill state and federal highway regulations.
Which Trucks Have to Stop at Weigh Stations?
Trucks have to stop at scale houses if they are over the minimum weight, which varies by state. In general, commercial and non-commercial trucks must stop at every weigh station they pass if they are over 10,000 pounds. The average semi-truck weighs about 35,000 pounds, so most trucks will need to stop if they pass an open weigh station.
When Do Trucks Not Have to Stop at Weigh Stations?
One reason that truck drivers don’t have to stop at a scale house is obvious: they don’t pass one. Some truckers can avoid these stops altogether through various detours. Truckers can even communicate to tell each other of an upcoming weigh station to avoid.
Another obvious reason a truck would not have to stop is if the station is closed.
Others still can avoid having to stop in the same way that cars don’t have to stop completely at a toll booth. There are bypass devices similar to the E-ZPass that will electronically relay the weight to the scale house. The trucks do not have to stop. Prepass, Drivewyze, and NORPASS are just a few brands that offer bypass programs.
What Happens If the Truck Is Overweight?
A truck is considered overweight if it exceeds 80,000 pounds. If the truck is overweight, it could face delays, fines, and even lawsuits or jail time, unless it has a permit. Penalties also apply if the truck fails to stop at a weigh station it passes.
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