Part of my job is to shuttle trucks between 4 dealerships owned by the same company.
Yesterday I was told to take a tractor to a dealership in Fort Wayne, IN. I knew there would be a scale on the south bound side of I69 which I would be going past with another tractor for the return trip, so I asked the bossman if I had to scale even though I was just bobtailing and he said no.
I went past the scale later that day with no hassles. I asked a trucker friend of mine about it and he said he was pretty sure you are suppose to scale even if your just bobtailing. The scale house was pretty full when I went past it, so now I'm thinking either they were to busy to worry with me or the bossman was right and bobtails don't need to scale.
What do you all think.....are you suppose to scale when bobtailing local?

thanks

 

The boss should have given you some knowledge {like numbers} along with "no", as to weights of vehicles that are required to scale.
Or you can give him some input, when your ticketed.
I would have scaled.

 

Bobtail or not, you're in a commercial vehicle - all cmv's must scale. Let's just say you're lucky that they didn't come after you with the disco lights lighting up the night.

 

Every state I've driven in has signs along the highway with information for the general driving public, as well as for commercial drivers.

When you get near the scales, the signs tell you that states requirments (usually boils down to weight). If your bobtail weighs less that what's posted on the sign, you don't have to scale, unless the sign also says something like "all trucks must weigh".

 

Your best bet would be to stop and scale, just in case.

Do you also have to weigh in on the scale if you're in a straight truck?

 

Straight trucks have the same axle weight limits as articulated trucks. Watch the signs; they will tell you the minimum weight that has to scale. Most I've seen are in the 4 to 6 ton minimum range has to weigh.

 

Watch the signs as you approach the scale. Often, they will say something like: ALL TRUCKS OVER 6 TONS MUST WEIGH. So, if your bobtail is over 12,000, You'd better cross the scale. And, that GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). If you're driving a tandem tractor, you're nearly that on the steers alone.

 

Read the signs approaching the scales.

Some will say all commercail vehicles, some will say all trucks over "X" weight, some will say something like empty truck OK to bypass.

Your bobtail truck will weigh between 15,000-20,000 lbs (7.5 tons-10 tons).

If you are really unsure if you need to scale when they are open simply pull in and park and walk inside and talk to the scale master. S/he will be happy to answer any questions you may have about that state's laws for CMV's.

 

Read the signs, or even better ASK the scalehouse.

I saw a sign the other day that said "Pickups with trailers must weight". When we rented a rental moving truck a few months ago we had to sign a form stating we were being made aware that we had to stop at the scales in all states. You never know who they want to see.

 

good luck