Comments By Aaron M.

Aaron, I want to thank you for having the courage to put your "lack of experience" problem here for discussion. This has been a fascinating thread as a result, and I'm sure many future readers will gain valuable knowledge because of it.

My only experience with weigh stations so far has been "rolling" weighs. As a flatbed trainee, we only had a couple loads that were close on weight, and in each case my trainer just relied on the shippers weight.

This is really good info that I'll certainly use in the future. Thanks again.

I am so glad this was helpful to you Turtle.

What's up everyone. Sorry for the late reply. I'm so glad I found this site. If Brett hadn't founded this site I'm not sure I'll be cut out for trucking haha.

I was reading every post and I'm glad it was helpful.

I got a new load and scaled on this one without setting my brakes but this time I didn't keep my foot on the brake pedal, I kept it in gear and it held.

This new load is about 2k heavier gross weight than that last load. My weights are legal so far but the tandems are stuck all the way forward and I just fueled up. This load is due in michigan tomorrow (march 5) and right now I'm in Wisconsin. I also moved my 5th wheel forward.

Also a quick side note, I do midwest regional now. Swift actually offered that position to me last month and of course I took it.

When i get some more time I want to read that study material I was given on this awesome site too.

To be clear, I work with swift, with only 5 months driving experience. I knows nothing. Plus I am not entirely sure about this so I can't say for certain this works in ALL states with ALL loads and ALL trucks. This is basically just a very small idea from a rookie.

It never occured to me until I made a thread called "bad shippers" that when dumping air on the tractor and trailer you "add" about 1500 to 2000 lbs on your steers.

I went back to the shipper twice to have my load reworked thinking the shipper was the problem (hence why I titled it bad shipper), when in reality it was me being a complete noob.

After the rework and getting scaled here were my weights:

Steer 12460 Drives 28660 Trailer 33600 Gross 74720

I had half a tank of fuel, no apu, 5th wheel all the way back, and tandoms where they need to be. As u can see I was 460lbs over on steers and I was heading into indiana and they are 12000 on steers.

Realizing my mistake, I went back to a truck stop and I DID NOT set my brakes and here are the new weights without me adjusting anything:

10300 31800 32440 74540

I kept the truck in gear, brakes released and shut off the truck so I can hear the cashier through the intercom. I didn't use the johnson bar but i did keep my foot on the brake.

I drove into indiana, and was able to bypass their weigh station. I am now in illinois. Im good haha.

I wasted a lot of time (and $$$$) doing this where if I'd know I could have had this load dropped 2 days ago.

Hopefully the next driver won't make this extreme rookie mistake.

Well I got my new weights at a truck stop WITHOUT dumping the brakes. I kept both brakes released:

10300 31800 32440 74540

I moved my tandoms 2 holes to the rear also.

Here are my previous weights:

12460 28660 33600 74720

Also I was able to bypass an indiana weigh station (they were open). I got the green on my transponder to keep rolling.

Dumb question; do you have an APU? If so, you should have a sheet in your permit book showing the weight of the apu and you're typically allowed that.

Nah I have no apu. Wish I did.

What about going through trucks stops cat scales? I always set my brakes and shut off the truck so they can hear me.

There is something else I need to point which i forgot to do in my op. When I went through the shippers scale my steer axle wileights were about 10500 with brakes released and applied they were 12360.

Are you running with an air ride suspension trailer?

Yea, it didn't don on me to realize that weight is added when the brakes are applied. If that is my only issue I am so embarrassed. Major less than rookie mistake.

There is something else I need to point which i forgot to do in my op. When I went through the shippers scale my steer axle wileights were about 10500 with brakes released and applied they were 12360.

There is your problem. ALWAYS weigh with your brakes RELEASED!

Lol, I told yall I knows NOTHING about rigs with just 5 months driving. I ain't even a rookie yet.

Have you sent in a Running Late macro? That documents your late delivery.

Yea They reschedulaed for tomorrow

There is something else I need to point which i forgot to do in my op. When I went through the shippers scale my steer axle wileights were about 10500 with brakes released and applied they were 12360.