what is the purpose of weigh scales on the interstate/highways
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Former truck driver here:
Weigh scales are for what their name implies: to weigh trucks. every set of axles on a truck and in a trailer has a legally mandated maximum weight they can carry.
On a trailer the axles can move backwards and foreards by a few feet to distribute the weight a bit better. This also affects trailer turning but is not important foe this discussion.
Weigh stations ALSO are staffed by highway officers who, can perform inspections on trucks to ensure that they meet highway safety requirements.
If they see a truck that is overweight, or has lights that do not work they might suspect the driver has other violations such as poor tire conditions, or log book violations.
For safety truck drivers has strict rules about how long they can drive, and how long they can “work” which involves other tasks that do not involve driving, such ad loading or unloading or waiting at border crossings.
Trucks are massive vehicles, and when accidents happen involving trucks many people can easily be hurt and killed ao its imperative that trucking companies and their drivers be held to strict standards.
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