Why did the weigh station take my picture?
' As you approach the scales, overview cameras snap a photo of your vehicle, so that officers can match it with the information accessed by the automated readers, mainly the license plate and U.S. DOT Number.
A driver is only allowed to legally bypass a weigh station if there is a sign stating it is okay to continue. Otherwise, if the driver continues without stopping at a weigh station, a roadside camera may take a picture of their vehicle and highway officials could mail a fine of up to $300.
Find a rest area or truck stop before you reach the weigh station. Rest areas will show up on map apps, on some weigh station apps, and on travel apps. There are usually more rest areas or truck stops than weigh stations, so you should be able to find a rest area before getting to a weigh station easily.
A weigh station is a designated checkpoint along a highway where a truck's weight is checked. These weight inspections are typically done by Department of Transportation inspectors or state highway patrols. Weigh stations are equipped with truck scales. For older scales, trucks usually stop to be weighed.
Permanent cameras are fixed on both sides of a lane approaching a weigh station. Photos are taken of both the right and left side of the vehicle, and the images are sent immediately to personnel. The thermal imaging will highlight failed bearings, damaged tires, or inoperative breaks.
“The camera adds ten pounds.”
This common phrase actually describes the effects of lens distortion caused by wide to semi-wide angle lenses, which can make people in pictures appear heavier than they really are.
Most weigh stations force drivers to “shut down” their operation if a truck weighs more than 6,000 pounds over maximum gross weight. Not only would you write a check to fund the salary of the officer who caught your driver, he would lose time and money waiting until another truck arrives to unload the excess weight.
So what is a Weigh Station Bypass program? At its core, these bypass solutions allow eligible carriers and vehicles to skip mobile inspection sites across the US and Canada. They were designed to reward carriers that have good safety scores, while also keeping inspection sites running more efficiently.
In short, truckers who have PrePass generally get to bypass the scale, and the scales have the ability to monitor it. When the trucks are due for inspections, PrePass will send them through the scales until they receive and pass a full mechanical/driver inspection.
A portable truck scale will have lower frame work that can be placed on non-typical surfaces such as dirt. These scales retain the same level of accuracy as a pit-type scale, with accuracy of up to + or - 1%.
How often do trucks get weighed?
For most areas, the maximum weight is 34,000 pounds, though scales are typically rated for much more than that. Some are warrantied to handle trucks up to 80,000 pounds each at 200 times a day for 25 years.
When you come to an open weigh station, get in the right lane and get in line for the scale. Some weigh stations will also note whether they have PrePass service, which, if equipped in your truck, will let you speed the process up significantly. Adhere to the speed limit as you drive toward and onto the scale.
The camera really does add 10 pounds. Or some cameras do at least. According to Gizmodo, the focal length of a camera can flatten out your features, which can make you look a little bit bigger. Then, of course, there's barrel distortion, which is when a camera lens can cause straight lines to appear curved.
These are traffic monitoring cameras. They exist to help the flow of traffic, and provide a live stream used by traffic engineers, law enforcement, cities, and counties.
Cameras & Sensors
The drone-looking cameras that hang from a traffic light are actually “Pan & Tilt” cameras which allow traffic engineers to see an entire intersection corridor. Emergency vehicle detection sensors are also commonly visible on top of an intersection.
Jasmine said that “if the mirrors are not mounted properly, every single mirror in each dressing room is going to be different” and claimed that “a normal mirror actually makes you look five to 10 pounds heavier than you do in real life.” But physics experts tell NBC News that's not true: Regular, flat mirrors shouldn' ...
On average, a 15 to 20-pound loss (approximately 2 to 5 percent of your starting body weight) is enough to notice "significant changes in your body," he said. You can start seeing differences in yourself as early as two weeks with rapid weight loss.
General Rule. 35550. (a) The gross weight on any one axle shall not exceed 20,000 pounds, and the gross weight upon any one wheel, or wheels, supporting one end of an axle, shall not exceed 10,500 pounds.
If a semi-truck is a few pounds over the weight limit, it might not be a concern. Most weigh stations force drivers to stop their operations if they are more than 6,000 pounds over the maximum limit. Exceeding maximum weight limits can carry other serious consequences.
If you suspect you are overweight, it is a good idea to contact the shipper. If the shipper knows beforehand, they can agree to cover your fine and can make arrangements with the Dept of Transportation, to take care of the situation. There are special permits for oversized loads, for instance.
What happens if I don't weigh my truck?
For example, if a trucker skips a required weigh station, they could be pulled over by a law enforcement officer, who may direct the trucker to drive back to the weigh station.
If convicted for passing a scale, you could face up to ninety days in the Kern County Jail, a fine of $1,000 plus state and county penalties, fees, and assessments that could double or even triple a fine.
A green (LED) light comes on along with audible signals that beeps to let the driver know they can keep going. If the truck must stop for a random check or is overweight, a red light will flash on the transponder and a different audible signal lets the driver know they must pull in for weigh-in and/or inspection.
As far as pulling a trailer with a pickup truck and the trailer does not exceed or have a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds, and you are not for hire, you will also not need to stop at a weigh station. Remember that all trailers with a gross weight of 3,000 or more must be equipped with brakes on all wheels.
Well, truck weigh stations play an important role in ensuring that each commercial vehicle passing through is following the laws and safety guidelines set by the state. The main motive behind this is to ensure that the weight of the truck is within the limit of what the road or highway can handle.
New Mexico
Yes [All drivers must stop if the truck's GVWR exceeds 26,001 pounds.]
(1) Any officer of the Florida Highway Patrol having reason to believe that the weight of a vehicle and load is unlawful is authorized to require the driver to stop and submit to a weighing of the same by means of either portable or fixed scales.
Yes. All vehicles, with the exception of RVs used for personal or recreational purposes, with a GVWR exceeding 10,000 pounds, must stop at weigh stations.
Dry weight is the total weight of your vehicle without passengers, cargo or fluids. Dry weight is similar to curb weight, except dry weight does not include the weight of automotive fluids needed for operation.