What is the purpose of a weigh station?
A weigh station allows trucks to be weighed while still on the road. Trucking companies are responsible for making sure that the trucks they send out are under the legal weight limit. However, trucking companies are often untrustworthy.
What is the meaning of weigh station?
A weigh station is a checkpoint along a highway to inspect vehicular weights. Weigh stations are equipped with truck scales, some of which are weigh in motion and permit the trucks to continue moving while being weighed, while older scales require the trucks to stop.
Why are there weigh stations on interstates?
A weigh station is a designated location, typically located directly off of highways, where the Department of Transportation or state highway patrol inspects the weight of a vehicle. The reason why there are weigh stations is to ensure that the roads are not compromised by a potentially overweight vehicle.
What do they check at weigh stations?
What do weigh stations check for? A weigh station acts as a checkpoint for weight restriction and safety inspections. That means that the two things that a weigh station checks for is the gross (total) weight of the truck and a safety inspection of both the truck and the trailer.
Why do some trucks stop at weigh stations and some don t?
If a truck is too heavy, a citation and a fine can be issued. If the weight makes the truck unsafe to operate, then it could be forced to stay at the station until the situation is rectified in some way.
Why do trucks have to go to weigh stations?
Truck weigh stations are important because weighing trucks prevents overweight trucks from going onto highways that cannot handle the heavy load. Trucks that weigh over the regulated weight limit can cause irreparable damage to roads and bridges. Many states collect taxes on transported goods based on weight.
Why do trucks have not for hire?
It is not uncommon to see “Not For Hire” graphics on trucks and horse trailers. The idea behind this is to avoid certain Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations. Nor will it protect you if you are driving a vehicle and trailer that requires a commercial license.