Which vehicles must stop at weighing stations

If you are a commercial truck driver or even rent a moving truck, you need to pay attention to the weighing stations along the motorways. Weighing stations were originally created for the states to collect taxes on commercial vehicles, citing the wear and tear of heavy trucks on the roads as the reason. Weighing stations now serve as checkpoints for weight restrictions and security checks. They keep both trucks and other vehicles on the road safe by making sure that the weight of the vehicle does not damage the vehicle, the road itself, or cause an accident. Heavier loads are more difficult to maneuver downhill, when turning, and when stopped. Weigh stations are also used to check documents and equipment, and to look for illegal immigration and human trafficking.

What vehicles must stop?

Laws vary by state, but as a general rule, commercial trucks over 10,000 pounds must stop at all open scales. Some companies send their trucks on pre-approved routes where drivers know from the outset if their vehicle can enter the roadway. The driver must stop at the scale when in doubt to avoid heavy fines if caught overweight. If the load is below the limit, then at least the inspection lets the driver know how much the car's tires can handle.

As a general rule, commercial semi-trailers and rental vans carrying heavy loads must stop at all open weighing stations. Signs pointing to the scales usually list the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) required to pass the weigh stations, and are printed on the side of most rental cars. According to the AAA, laws for specific vehicles and weights vary by state:

Alabama: The officer may require the truck or trailer to be weighed using a portable or stationary scale and may order the truck to be weighed if it is 5 miles away.

Alaska: Trucks over 10,000 pounds. should stop.

Arizona: Gross Gross Weight is charged on trailers and semi-trailers weighing 10,000 pounds or more; commercial trailers or semi-trailers; motor vehicles or combinations of vehicles if they are used or carry passengers for compensation (except for school buses or charitable organizations); vehicles carrying hazardous materials; or a hearse, ambulance, or similar vehicle used by the undertaker. In addition, any item shipped to the state can be tested for pests.

Arkansas: Agricultural vehicles, passenger or special vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or more, and commercial trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds must stop at weigh and check stations.

California: All commercial vehicles must stop for size, weight, equipment, and smoke emission checks wherever the California Highway Patrol tests and signs are posted.

Colorado: Every owner or driver of a vehicle with a rated GVW or GVW of over 26,000 pounds. permission is required from a DOR office, a Colorado State Patrol Officer, or a weight station at a port of entry before using it in the state.

Connecticut: All commercial vehicles, regardless of weight, are required to stop.

Delaware: The secretary of the Department of Public Safety may adopt the rules and procedures for weighing necessary for law enforcement purposes.

Florida: Agricultural, motor vehicles, including trailers, which are used or can be used in the production, manufacture, storage, sale or transportation of any food or agricultural, horticultural or livestock products, with the exception of private cars without a trailer, travel trailers, camping trailers, and mobile homes must stop; the same applies to commercial vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVW that are designed to carry more than 10 passengers or carry hazardous materials.

Georgia: Agricultural vehicles, passenger or special vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or more, and commercial trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds must stop at weigh and check stations.

Hawaii: Trucks over 10,000 pounds GVW must stop.

Idaho: 10 fixed entry points with 10 moving units are available for weighing.

Illinois: Police officers may stop vehicles suspected of exceeding the permitted weight.

Indiana: Trucks with a GVW of 10,000 pounds and above must stop.

Iowa: Any law enforcement officer who has reason to believe that the weight of the vehicle and its load is illegal may stop the driver and have the vehicle weighed on a portable or stationary scale or request that the vehicle be brought to the nearest public scale. If the vehicle is overweight, the officer may stop the vehicle until enough weight has been removed to reduce the gross authorized weight to an acceptable limit. All vehicles over 10,000 pounds must stop.

Kansas: All registered trucks are required to stop at security checkpoints and vehicle weighing points, if indicated by signs. Police officers who have reasonable grounds to believe that the vehicle exceeds its carrying capacity may require the driver to stop for weighing on a portable or stationary scale.

Kentucky: Agricultural and commercial vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or more must stop.

Louisiana: Agricultural vehicles, as well as passenger or special vehicles (single or trailer), and commercial vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or more must stop.

Maine: At the direction of a police officer or at a designated weighing station, the driver must allow the vehicle to wave and allow registration and load capacity checks.

Maryland: The State Police maintains 7 one-station weighing and metering stations on Interstate 95 where agricultural and commercial vehicles over 10,000 pounds must stop, as well as commercial buses carrying more than 16 passengers, and any carriers of hazardous materials carrying signs.

Massachusetts: Agricultural vehicles, as well as passenger or special vehicles (single or trailer), and commercial vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or more must stop.

Michigan: Vehicles with dual rear wheels carrying agricultural products, trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds with dual rear wheels and/or towing construction equipment, and all vehicles with tractors and semi-trailers must stop.

Minnesota: Every vehicle with a GVW of 10,000 or more must stop.

Mississippi: Any vehicle may be weighed to verify proper registration with the State Tax Commission, tax inspectors, highway patrol or other authorized law enforcement officer.

Missouri: All commercial trucks over GVW 18,000 pounds must stop.

Montana: Vehicles carrying agricultural products and trucks with a GVW of 8,000 pounds or more, and new or used RBs being delivered to a distributor or dealer must stop.

Nebraska: With the exception of pickup trucks pulling a rest trailer, all trucks over 1 ton must stop.

Nevada: Agricultural vehicles, as well as passenger or special vehicles (single or trailer), and commercial vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or more must stop.

New Hampshire: The driver of each vehicle must stop and be weighed on a portable, stationary, or weigh scale within 10 miles of the stopping place at the request of any law enforcement officer.

New Jersey: All vehicles weighing 10,001 pounds or more must stop for weighing.

New Mexico: Trucks weighing 26,001 pounds or more must stop.

New York: Stationary monitoring and weighing stations as well as selective enforcement using portable devices must be respected as directed.

North Carolina: The Department of Transportation maintains between 6 and 13 permanent weigh stations where a law enforcement officer can stop a vehicle to ensure that its weight meets the advertised gross weight and weight limits.

North Dakota: With the exception of recreational vehicles (RVs) used for personal or recreational purposes, all vehicles over GVW 10,000 pounds must stop.

Ohio: All commercial vehicles over 10,000 pounds (5 tons) must cross the scale if they collide with open weigh stations.

Oklahoma: Any officer of the Department of Public Safety, the Oklahoma Revenue Commission, or any sheriff may stop any vehicle to weigh it on a portable or stationary scale.

Oregon: All vehicles or combinations of vehicles over 26,000 pounds must stop.

Pennsylvania: Agricultural vehicles driving on public roads, passenger and special vehicles towing large trailers, large vans and trucks are subject to inspection and weighing regardless of size.

Rhode Island: Trucks over 10,000 pounds GVW and agricultural vehicles must stop.

South Carolina: If there is reason to believe that the weight of the vehicle and load is illegal, the law may require the vehicle to stop and be weighed on a portable or stationary scale or drive up to the nearest public scale. If the officer determines that the weight is illegal, the vehicle may be stopped and unloaded until the axle weight or total weight reaches a safe value. The driver of the vehicle must take care of the unloaded material at his own risk. The scaled gross vehicle weight cannot be closer than 10% to the true gross weight.

North Dakota: Agricultural vehicles, trucks and exit operations over 8,000 pounds GVW must be stopped.

Tennessee: Weigh stations are located throughout the state to check federal and state restrictions related to size, weight, safety and driving regulations.

Texas: All commercial vehicles must stop when directed by a sign or a police officer.

Utah: Any law enforcement officer who has reason to believe that the height, weight, or length of the vehicle and its load is illegal may ask the operator to stop the vehicle and subject it to inspection, and drive it to the nearest scale or port of entry within 3 miles.

Vermont: Any uniformed officer who has reason to believe that the weight of the vehicle and its load is illegal may ask the operator to stop the vehicle for up to an hour to determine the weight. If the driver of a vehicle does not wish to weigh himself on a portable scale, he may weigh his vehicle on the nearest public scale, unless one is nearby.

Virginia: Trucks with a gross gross weight of more than 7,500 pounds must stop.

Washington: Farm vehicles and trucks that weigh more than 10,000 pounds must stop.

West Virginia: A police officer or motor vehicle security officer may require the driver of a vehicle or combination of vehicles to stop for weighing at a portable or fixed weighing station, or drive to the nearest weighing station if it is within 2 miles of where the vehicle stopped.

Wisconsin: Trucks over 10,000 pounds GVW must stop.

Wyoming: Trucks must be stopped by a traffic sign or a police officer and can be randomly selected for inspection. All oversized and extra-heavy loads weighing 150,000 pounds or more must have a State Entry Permit or Permit to purchase a permit before entering Wyoming and driving on state roads.

If you are driving a large vehicle and think you may have to stop at a weigh station, check the laws in the state(s) you will be passing through. Gross weights of most trucks are listed on the side to give you an idea of ​​how much load they can handle. If you're ever in doubt, stop at the weigh station anyway to avoid a hefty fine and get an idea of ​​what your car can handle.