The Deuce and Truck Weight Stations

[rmgill]

I have driven to and from PA to Ga by myself in the Deuce with the Dingo on a trailer 3 times so far. All up weight was 26,200 lbs. I made a habit of pulling into each weigh station and each time I get a green light and a wave. I had one station have the guy in the tower tell me to pull to the side and that was my first trip north. In this case I'd been passed on the way to the station by one of the staff who had a 'stiffie' because of the armored car I was hauling. They just wanted to look at the truck and trailer for the novelty factor. They weren't interested in paperwork at all and were quite friendly.

The next time I drove through I got a quick "how's it going" through the Weight station speaker and a quick exchange of pleasantries and a green light. (They remembered me from the previous year).

So aside from the friendly look and see which I didn't mind to give at all, I've not had a single problem in the weigh stations. I figure it's better to pull through as a token offer to look you over and they're not going to get cheesed off and chase you down. Half the time they'll probably be looking at the truck happy to see something different OR wondering why you pulled in if you don't have to pull in. If they do pull you to the side just be friendly and offer up what paperwork you should have.

You should carry an extinguisher, triangles and other gear just as a good measure of safety. I carry more than I need with a collection of flares as well as flashlights and other safety/repair gear.

 

[m-35tom]

in 15 years of driving all oner the country i have never stopped. for the most part i think they assume you are a military truck. most deuces seem to be invisable to police.

 

[73m819]

in cal, i never stopped with my m52

 

[kinetichotshot]

As long as you are not using it in a "For Hire" application you should not have any problem with the scales. The definition of a "Commercial Vehicle" by the FMCSA is any vehicle used in a "for hire" application that weighs more than 10,000 lbs. There is a quick excersize on the FMCSA website that will walk you through weather or not you need to be registered as a CMV or have DOT#s. If your gross weight in any way exceeds 26,000 lbs you do need to have a CDL. Again, in these military relics i doubt that you would get into too much trouble, and for the most part any time that you are pulled over is probably more curiosity than anything, but it is always better to be safe than sorry. Just my $.02. Wishing you all safe travels, no matter how you travel.
Gator

 

[bottleworks]

If your gross weight in any way exceeds 26,000 lbs you do need to have a CDL.

One of the nice things about NC is that you don't need a CDL for 26K+ (for private trucks). There are Non-Commercial licenses available. Class C, B, and A.

http://www.ncdot.org/dmv/driver_services/drivershandbook/chapter1/typesLicenses.html

 

[kinetichotshot]

Yes! Some states have different licenses that are non-commercial for driving large vehicles. I'm sorry for the generalization, I was simply pointing out that a regular operators license may not be sufficient for some of these vehicles. Trying to keep you guys out of trouble with the DOT!
Happy Trucking!
Gator

 

[therbert]

Thanks Again for all your help.. I did make it back. I have a differnt appreation for those troops that I saw on family vacations when I was a kid driving these beasts for hours. It took 11 +/- hours to make it back on I-40. I didnt stop at the scales, never had any issues. What a drive.. I may just pay for the next one. I still can't feel my right leg.. HA

 

[zusmc]

If the GVWR on the truck is over 10,000 lbs technically your supposed to go in the station. Most probably get away with it because people think there still being used by the military. You also need to make sure your tag weight (lic weight) is correct for the vehicle. Tag needs to be registered with enough weight to cover the truck and any load.

 

[therbert]

I havn't gone to the Tag Agency Yet. Wondering what crap they will give me. How was your experience when you registered?

 

[cranetruck]

....What a drive.. I may just pay for the next one. I still can't feel my right leg.. HA

Glad you made it alright!

About the leg thing, on a long drive I alternate using left and right foot on the pedal.

About registration, shouldn't be a problem, just have your insurance papers on hand.

 

[bottleworks]

Be prepared to hand out some cash when you register it. You will need insurance, SF-97, a bill of sale (because you are using an SF-97), and money. You will have to register it with at least 14,000 Lbs of weight on the registration. Then, they will charge you a onetime highway use tax. Keep in mind that they will charge the HUT tax based off of what that bill of sales says...

So, I bet you will end up handing them almost $400 the first time you register it and title it in your name. If you get lucky, they will register it as an "MP" and not a "truck" like they did with me...but I might have trouble if I am ever pulled over (due to no weight paid). Good Luck!

 

[Canislupus]

I live in Oregon, and had read up here, on the Weigh stations, as I was headed to Southern Oregon last Monday.

Interesting what happened. I went through the Weigh Station, and the "Weigh Master" for lack of a better word, decided to play Ping Pong with my 109 on the Scale. I think he just wanted to make SURE I saw how much it weighed. Well, I surely did, and he seemed to be having a GRAND time, having me go forward, and backward over the Scale. I also got a taste of Red Light Green Light with this Guy. It was actually kind of funny.
He then proceeded to come out and give me about 5 or 6 reasons why I didn't have to pull through. I told him I was just trying to obey the sign that said "All vehicles with a GVW over 20,000, must Exit"... I know my loaded GVW is over 20k, so I went through.
No Biggie, but I'll tell ya, I won't be going through another one.

It was interesting though...

CL

 

[jimk]

Acetomatoco said,

Review the rules re interstate vs intrastate commerce.....for your state... The inspectors can call it a safety inspection and gig ya for no valve caps if they are in the mood...

Probably the best advice I have seen so far.(Rosco's too.)

I been thru NY's w/ commercial big rigs maybe 100 times. Been checked out maybe 15. These are a bit like floating check points, usually in Preble or LaFayette on I81, but not always. I have not seen one on I90 in 10y.

I was put 'out of service' for a frayed brake hose last week. While that may sound like a pain it was definitely not, I was at work and it was a nice sunny morning. I got paid (3 1/2 hours) to read my MVM mag at the a picnic table. Made my boss's day go bad but he has proven too be less than honorable, so...

In 25y I have only seen Pa set up only twice at night. Maybe they do it in the day... Mass never. Conn twice. Me, NH, Ri, NJ never.(note latter part of list I travel less). I have watched a big rig fail to enter and asked what's up? They didn't care. I asked about what has to enter and get different answers from different guys. Three axles or 12,000 lbs is a common answer. I have been told everything but pick ups and RV's. They (NY) have said the army is exempt. NY has a few different programs. Some days they are doing a class 1 inspection. Other days they are looking at logs and hoses. Some days it is weight. Others, haz mat. Best have your truck and paperwork in order in NY. If they find something it doesn't matter what the 'program' was.

They (NY) are usually very good at what they do and exhibit a high level of accuracy, professionalism and politeness, unlike some other law enforcement activities here. Other states have a more clearly defined definition on what should enter their fixed stations.

 

[wsucougarx]

So in regard to the Republic of Kalifornia. If I have a WA historical plates on a deuce and drive through CA, get pulled out and find I do not have a CDL, what happens then? Let me go b/c truck registered in WA that does not require a CDL or get impounded b/c now in CA and WA regs do not apply?

 

[jimk]

I thought about my last post and decided to elaborate on that 'last week'. My inspector was a State DOT Heavy Commercial Inspection Unit guy. After he was done a very young NTS Highway Trooper wrote the ticket for hose. Prob a new guy training. The inspector is often a NYS Trooper that specializes in heavy comm vehicles. I asked my guy about a pair of ratty tires on the trailer, one was full of big bald spots from cupping (and the rest had barely visible tread) while the one next to it had a big chunk of missing re-cap missing, maybe 3"wide x 20" long, and the stuff that was there was floating on air. My inspector said that was ok. I'm with a co that has pretty good equipment (this trailer was from a different system). I have seen a lot of tickets but never anything that was bad enough to be even slightly 'unsafe' till these tires. It is pretty obvious these truck checks are just cash cows and they are just making money. Maybe they see some scary stuff once and a while.

Interestingly , this time the check light was on but they were not ready. A supertucker had just passed me and we both pulled in. Big rigger did not know what to do (rule is to drive by slowly unless someone has some interest in you). We sat a bit. The two yakking inspectors ignored him. Supertucker then started to pull into a check slot and sat. That really blocked the lane and a line was starting to form behind me. It was all very funny and I was really sick of driving. So inspector #1 grabbed him. Now that his pal had no one to talk so he grabbed me. We had a great chat while he did the check over. The trooper who did me a few month earlier came over and asked how my 'war' was going. He had expressed some disgust [earlier] for his [police]job and had said he planned to leave [too]. My co is not set up for repair and gives the task to a road service. This time a guy came by in civi pick-up with an attaché w/ a few wrenches and screwdrivers, and his girlfriend. 3 hour later, and a bunch of trips to and fro, he had some welding bottles set up in that parking lot. I went over and told him MacGyver would have had me fixed up in 10 minutes with a paper clip and business card, then asked him if he ever saw a bottle fall over and knock the valve off... Opp I guess am rambling.... and no, I am not making all this up.

p.s. The supertucker was put out of service too. He said it was his first day. Welcome to the trucking industry pal.

Just last week I was in the break room reading a trucking rag. Seems N.C, had been going after the wide load/ overweight permit guys, finding fault in the escort vehicle (the real example given was a taillight out), invalidating the permit then writing the overweight up. The court then levied an incredible fine maybe $27,000+ was the example was being discussed. The carrier had a trial and lower court found the carrier in the wrong. The carrier had to go to the appeals court to get justice. That judge there stated that the invalidation was illegal and should be clearly outlined in the original statute to be considered valid. The article had another example same thing. Like I said it is all about $. Scary to see law enforcement using such tactics. They must be learning new tricks from the scum bags they nail.

 

[spitfire_pilot]

I blow right by them in Ohio. But, I've always blown right by them in my single axle dumps because I am Not For Hire. Never had anyone chase me down in the last 20 years.

 

[jimk]

I went thru the Preble, NY truck inspection this AM. I asked 2 questions about private use trucks and this inspection station. From the CVEU officer (Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit)

1.) Trucks not used for commerce do not need to stop.

2.) Log books do not need to be used if driver is not involved in commerce.

www.troopers.state.ny.us/traffic_safety/Commercial_Vehicles/


Afterwards. I thought of 2 more questions-

3.) Do same rules apply to scales? (I haven't been scaled in NY in over a decade),

4,) What size trucks stop when used for commerce?

I'll edit this post when I get answers.

 

[Snarky]

So in regard to the Republic of Kalifornia. If I have a WA historical plates on a deuce and drive through CA, get pulled out and find I do not have a CDL, what happens then? Let me go b/c truck registered in WA that does not require a CDL or get impounded b/c now in CA and WA regs do not apply?

I would like to know the answers to these questions.

 

[dc3coyote]

Soo, how about the bigger trucks, the 818s with a trailer. Possibley a flatdeck with a couple Unimogs and a Pinzgauer on back. Any ideas? None of it will be for hire.

 

[MCHoward]

i dont have mine with me but get a fedral motor carriers handbook it outlines most of these questoins. but the scalemaster is (thinks he's) god and can make his own rules