Weigh Stations.... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

300EVIL · #1 10-14-2010, 12:40 AM

Hey guys,
I just cannot make heads or tails of this and I doubt I'll get a defined answer here either. I've been searching all over the internet and I hear sooo many mixed opinions, don't stop, must stop, maybe stop if...

Here's the facts.... I bought a Chevy 3500HD truck with a 15' box on the back for moving copiers for my business. It has a curb weight of like 12K pounds. I don't have or need a CDL or a DOT number. I'll probably put on 10K miles a year moving copiers, so very little use. The truck is registered in FL and the guy who picked it up for me did not stop for weigh stations.

I hear people say, "Stop anyway, better to be safe than sorry." Then I hear, "If you do stop you'll be asked for log books and medical cards and they'll fine the hell out of you."

I also hear it's different from state to state.

Now, I have been driving these type of trucks for YEARS and have never stopped for passing a weigh station, however, there was this one time I got pulled over when I was 18 working for my former employer for blowing a weigh station in Michigan and they threw the book at me, well,,, my employer. It was not a fun experience. Got tickets for everything under the sun and was not able to drive the truck back home. The lady cops, were really mean to me as well and treated me like some A-hole trying to evade the law.

I just don't get the law, I want to do it right but I cannot seem to find the right answers to doing this correctly. It does not make sense that If I drive the truck a couple thousand miles every 6 months that I need the certification of a commercial driver when any Joe Schmo can rent a bigger truck from U-Haul and not need anything except for a Class A drivers license.

Can anyone shed some light on this???

Thanks!
Adam

Skid Row Joe · #2 10-14-2010, 01:03 AM

If you get a commercial driver's license - I've heard that at least in Texas, there is no alcohol tollerance in your blood stream with a comm. DL. If this is correct, and you have a comm DL, you cannot drink and drive anything, not just your delivery truck. And since it is against the law to possess two DLs, well you get the picture - AND, the fee to get and renew the comm. DL is more costly.

I would wing it......that is drive dumb 'n happy in no more than a small delivery truck like that. Heck, my diesel coach weighs more 'n your truck, loaded! The weigh station guys get real impatient with newbys, and your little truck may just antagonize 'em.

I don't blame you for your trepidation. I like to obey the law too!

mpolli · #3 10-14-2010, 01:14 AM

If you ever get stopped just say you stopped once and the guys there yelled at you for wasting their time, and read you the riot act.

300EVIL · #4 10-14-2010, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

If you get a commercial driver's license - I've heard that at least in Texas, there is no alcohol tollerance in your blood stream with a comm. DL. If this is correct, and you have a comm DL, you cannot drink and drive anything, not just your delivery truck. And since it is against the law to possess two DLs, well you get the picture - AND, the fee to get and renew the comm. DL is more costly.

I would wing it......that is drive dumb 'n happy in no more than a small delivery truck like that. Heck, my diesel coach weighs more 'n your truck, loaded! The weigh station guys get real impatient with newbys, and your little truck may just antagonize 'em.

I don't blame you for your trepidation. I like to obey the law too!

LOL! yeah, exactly. There are a bunch of old blue hair's navigating Prevost's that would make my little box van look like a damn go-cart. Like I said before, I never had a problem except for once and without being too judgmental, I don't think these lady cops liked men AT ALL,,, If you know what i mean.

I just don't want another situation like that, it would cost me thousands and I'm trying to feed a family and maintain my Benz stock. LOL.

Thanks Man!
Adam

300EVIL · #5 10-14-2010, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpolli

If you ever get stopped just say you stopped once and the guys there yelled at you for wasting their time, and read you the riot act.

LOL! I love it!

IDK, with my luck they'd probably throw me in the clink for lying. I am a terrible lair.

buffa98 · #6 10-14-2010, 02:36 AM

CDL- Not required for the following
less that 26K
less than 26K towing less than 10K

Now where the states can get you is a a/c service truck like yours with a buisnesses name on the side meets the requirements of the cdl because of the freon hauled inside. It is a catch 22, How ever My guess(and only a guess) is that as ong as it is blank on the side and has a personal registration on it you should not be bothered.

I know a couple of people that have bought over the road tractors to use as tow vehicle for thier massive 5th wheels. What they did was put private coach not for hire on the side of it.

MS Fowler · #7 10-14-2010, 08:23 AM

buffa98's answer has the ring of truth, and wisdom to it.

TheDon · #8 10-14-2010, 08:35 AM

Have you called your states DOT?

SwampYankee · #9 10-14-2010, 08:38 AM

As you said it varies from state, but here if it is a Commercial-plated (CDL or not) or Apportioned-plated you're required to pull in. Now with a smaller box, some drive by and the Staties/inspectors rarely chase them down if/when they do. Anytime I or my drivers have been in the 15K GVW truck (Ford F-450 Super Duty) we've been waved through. Although both sides of the box are completely filled by our logo, name and address and we keep all of our trucks clean and well maintained (Safety Inspection stickers legible on on the driver's door) there's not much doubt who we are or what we're carrying. There's been such a crackdown on tractor trailers here (in the New England) they're not going to waste their time on a "pickup" with a box body.

More often than not they wave our tandem axle 55K GVW curtainside truck through, I'm guessing for the same reasons.

What type of license plate is on the truck?

TX76513 · #10 10-14-2010, 08:48 AM

Texas is changing rapidly and had us jumping through hoops this year. Currently this is valid:
Registration required. Operators of commercial motor vehicles that meet the following criteria must register with TxDMV as motor carriers:

•Vehicle (or combination of vehicles) with a gross weight, registered weight, or gross weight rating exceeding 26,000 pounds, that is designed or used for transportation of cargo in furtherance of any commercial enterprise
•For-hire vehicle used to transport household goods, regardless of gross weight rating
•Vehicle, including a bus, designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver
•Vehicle used to transport hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placarding under the regulations issued under the Federal Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 USC, § 5101-5127)
•Vehicle defined by 49 CFR §390.5, owned or controlled by someone domiciled in, or a citizen of, a country other than the United States

soothappens · #11 10-14-2010, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

Texas is changing rapidly and had us jumping through hoops this year. Currently this is valid:
Registration required. Operators of commercial motor vehicles that meet the following criteria must register with TxDMV as motor carriers:

•Vehicle (or combination of vehicles) with a gross weight, registered weight, or gross weight rating exceeding 26,000 pounds, that is designed or used for transportation of cargo in furtherance of any commercial enterprise
•For-hire vehicle used to transport household goods, regardless of gross weight rating
•Vehicle, including a bus, designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver
•Vehicle used to transport hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placarding under the regulations issued under the Federal Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 USC, § 5101-5127)
•Vehicle defined by 49 CFR §390.5, owned or controlled by someone domiciled in, or a citizen of, a country other than the United States

Yup !! I used to pass the scales in a F650 service truck. The other drivers would even tell me on the CB I was wasting time sitting in line when I would pull into the scales.

Not anymore !
Scenario: Music playing lovin life here comes a scale house .......... there goes a scale.....wait wonder what the trooper was waving his hat and pointing at looked like it was me. Better turn around and check.

Red faced trooper:" What the hell are you doing passing my scale house! "
Me: "Trucks under DOT specs ."
Trooper: "Is it not a commercial vehicle did that sign not say commercial vehicles?
Son a g** d**n car with decals on it is a commercial vehicle and its supposed to pull in as well !!! What makes you so D**N special??!!

Got a thorough inspection and a warning for passing the scale. "NEXT TIME ITS A 500.00 FINE ! THAT'S A PERSONAL FINE SON !"

Moral of the story: Every scale house I see open I pull into. We even pull the pickups through them.

Chew on my a$$ once shame on me , Twice.................... Well ,You just cant do that.

Angel · #12 10-14-2010, 11:39 AM

two other thoughts:

1) get a GPS that routes you around weigh stations- truckers have them but they are $400+ - maybe cheaper but I've never shopped for one with that feature.

2) If there is 1 or 2 weigh stations that you'd pass frequently, drive there in your car (when they are open...if you know when...) roll up and ask the weigh station operator-guys in person. Be sure to wear clothes similar to theirs (no suits or dirty overalls), don't approach the place if they are busy. Tell your story the way you told it here, and be up front with them- give the people in question a chance to tell you what is up. Maybe don't talk to the guys in the booth - maybe talk the policeman sitting in a cruiser next to the booth. Unless they are having an unusually bad day, they'll at least give you a better informed/more local opinion that you'd get on any internet.

If it were a power plant, I'd tell you to bring a box of donuts or Bagels - use your own discretion here - Cheese curls ? Packer's Jerseys ? Good Coffee for their coffee-maker ? soft-multi ply toilet paper ( 50% serious - institutional toilet paper is always the brunt of sandpaper jokes...but perhaps I'm oversharing here =) Anyone who has ever worked for the .gov will agree with me here.

...you get the idea. $12 in donuts is well spent if it saves you hassle down the line

Aquaticedge · #13 10-14-2010, 12:59 PM

I've driven buses around and never had to stop, one of the buses was 22Klbs they look for the DOT or the other number M something

TX76513 · #14 10-14-2010, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soothappens

Yup !! I used to pass the scales in a F650 service truck. The other drivers would even tell me on the CB I was wasting time sitting in line when I would pull into the scales.

Not anymore !
Scenario: Music playing lovin life here comes a scale house .......... there goes a scale.....wait wonder what the trooper was waving his hat and pointing at looked like it was me. Better turn around and check.

Red faced trooper:" What the hell are you doing passing my scale house! "
Me: "Trucks under DOT specs ."
Trooper: "Is it not a commercial vehicle did that sign not say commercial vehicles?
Son a g** d**n car with decals on it is a commercial vehicle and its supposed to pull in as well !!! What makes you so D**N special??!!

Got a thorough inspection and a warning for passing the scale. "NEXT TIME ITS A 500.00 FINE ! THAT'S A PERSONAL FINE SON !"

Moral of the story: Every scale house I see open I pull into. We even pull the pickups through them.

Chew on my a$$ once shame on me , Twice.................... Well ,You just cant do that.

If your vehicle isnt as described in Texas you should have answered no. By defintion of CMV. If you trucks says Joes XXX doesn't mean its commercial. If you cross state lines (interstate) the world does change and the GVW movaes to 10,001 #

Hatterasguy · #15 10-14-2010, 02:23 PM

I wouldn't stop, just avoid them as much as possible.

My uncles dump truck and trailer would never pass a DOT inspection, he has been playing hide and seek with them for 15 years and they still haven't gotten him. The trick is you move equipment on Sunday when no one is working, and know a lot of people who call you when they know your moving equipment and see DOT cars.