Questions About Scales
Topic 23432 | Page 1
You did the right thing. If their WIM scale (weigh-in-motion) was out of service or malfunctioning, they will bring every truck in for a check. Next time this happens, ask the scale attendant if you needed to come-in,... they'll tell you.
You did the right thing. If their WIM scale (weigh-in-motion) was out of service or malfunctioning, they will bring every truck in for a check. Next time this happens, ask the scale attendant if you needed to come-in,... they'll tell you.
I figured I did the right thing, but I wanted to ask you guys just to be sure. As I seen one truck bypass the scale as I was pulling in. So that's why I questioned it. But thank you!
I bypass unless there are signs specific to each truck such as Georgia chicken coops. My Drivewyze also never gives me the bypass for those scales or any like them in other states. It will tell me to "follow the signs" or to "enter unless closed." Your safety department will likely be able to set you straight.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
If there is a sign specifically saying follow in cab/prepass signals and I get a green, I'll bypass it, if it says all trucks when open, I go through the scale, if it says follow the signs (like ga) then I do whatever the signs say.
Maybe the other truck got a green and bypassed it, but like you, I'd rather pull in and not need to than be sorry I didn't stop and unemployed if you get my drift lol.
You did the right thing in that you had a doubt so you pulled in. But I'm familiar with that station, and the "all trucks must enter" flashing lights just mean that the station is open, so if your qualcomm told you to bypass, you could have bypassed.
Qualcomm:
Omnitracs (a.k.a. Qualcomm) is a satellite-based messaging system with built-in GPS capabilities built by Qualcomm. It has a small computer screen and keyboard and is tied into the truck’s computer. It allows trucking companies to track where the driver is at, monitor the truck, and send and receive messages with the driver – similar to email.
Now on the flip side of this question ...
what to do if you get a message to enter... or a redlight on your prepass... and the scale signs say closed or do not enter ... what to do
I had a student one time on I 84 headed west to Portland, OR. and got a red light on the prepass... but the scale said closed ...
he argued with me about going in and he insisted he needed to enter the scale....
I told him to pull over before entering the scale so I could throw him off my truck and terminate his training... he thought about it for a couple of seconds .... and made the right choice and just kept on drivin
I have a quick question. Yesterday while coming into Maine, I got a message on the Qualcomm letting me know about an upcoming scale, about a mile away I got the bypass but as I got closer there was a sign that said something along the lines of "All CMV must exit when lights are flashing" so being a rookie I went into the scale, which of course I knew i was legal so i had no problems. But my question is simple. Could I have bypassed the scale, regardless of the sign or did I do the right thing?
Qualcomm:
Omnitracs (a.k.a. Qualcomm) is a satellite-based messaging system with built-in GPS capabilities built by Qualcomm. It has a small computer screen and keyboard and is tied into the truck’s computer. It allows trucking companies to track where the driver is at, monitor the truck, and send and receive messages with the driver – similar to email.CMV:
Commercial Motor Vehicle
A CMV is a vehicle that is used as part of a business, is involved in interstate commerce, and may fit any of these descriptions:
- Weighs 10,001 pounds or more
- Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more
- Is designed or used to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) not for compensation
- Is designed or used to transport 9 or more passengers (including the driver) for compensation
- Is transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placards
Now on the flip side of this question ...
what to do if you get a message to enter... or a redlight on your prepass... and the scale signs say closed or do not enter ... what to do
I had a student one time on I 84 headed west to Portland, OR. and got a red light on the prepass... but the scale said closed ...
he argued with me about going in and he insisted he needed to enter the scale....
I told him to pull over before entering the scale so I could throw him off my truck and terminate his training... he thought about it for a couple of seconds .... and made the right choice and just kept on drivin
I have a quick question. Yesterday while coming into Maine, I got a message on the Qualcomm letting me know about an upcoming scale, about a mile away I got the bypass but as I got closer there was a sign that said something along the lines of "All CMV must exit when lights are flashing" so being a rookie I went into the scale, which of course I knew i was legal so i had no problems. But my question is simple. Could I have bypassed the scale, regardless of the sign or did I do the right thing?
Really? 
Our Qualcomm normally tells us about all the scales, it'll say "pull in unless closed" or "Follow roadsigns" if it doesn't say bypass.
Qualcomm:
Omnitracs (a.k.a. Qualcomm) is a satellite-based messaging system with built-in GPS capabilities built by Qualcomm. It has a small computer screen and keyboard and is tied into the truck’s computer. It allows trucking companies to track where the driver is at, monitor the truck, and send and receive messages with the driver – similar to email.CMV:
Commercial Motor Vehicle
A CMV is a vehicle that is used as part of a business, is involved in interstate commerce, and may fit any of these descriptions:
- Weighs 10,001 pounds or more
- Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more
- Is designed or used to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) not for compensation
- Is designed or used to transport 9 or more passengers (including the driver) for compensation
- Is transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placards
Might be a dumb question but I dont remember seeing anything about it. What if you're bobtail? Do you still need to enter? I know it's an uncommon situation to not have a trailer.
Bobtail:
"Bobtailing" means you are driving a tractor without a trailer attached.
PA & NJ do not support Scalepass or WIM. It’s mandatory for all trucks to enter an OPEN scale. So in this case “yes”.
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I have a quick question. Yesterday while coming into Maine, I got a message on the Qualcomm letting me know about an upcoming scale, about a mile away I got the bypass but as I got closer there was a sign that said something along the lines of "All CMV must exit when lights are flashing" so being a rookie I went into the scale, which of course I knew i was legal so i had no problems. But my question is simple. Could I have bypassed the scale, regardless of the sign or did I do the right thing?
Qualcomm:
Omnitracs (a.k.a. Qualcomm) is a satellite-based messaging system with built-in GPS capabilities built by Qualcomm. It has a small computer screen and keyboard and is tied into the truck’s computer. It allows trucking companies to track where the driver is at, monitor the truck, and send and receive messages with the driver – similar to email.CMV:
Commercial Motor Vehicle
A CMV is a vehicle that is used as part of a business, is involved in interstate commerce, and may fit any of these descriptions: