what is the purpose of weigh scales on the interstate/highways
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They exist to ensure public safety. Trucks will be inspected to make sure they are not overloaded with freight, and that they are mechanically sound.
The damage a vehicle does to the road is exponentially related to the weight per axle. A small car does basically no damage to the road compared to a semi truck and an overloaded semi truck does significantly more damage still
1:To check that trucks are not overloaded. One over loaded truck causes more wear to the road then thousands of cars.
2: They also inspect the trucks to make sure they are safe. Since its law that the truck must go through the scale the inspectors are there.
3: They check to make sure the drivers of the trucks are following the rules for how long they are allowed to drive everyday.
The scales serve multiple purposes.
1. To insure commercial vehicles aren’t overweight.
2. To charge commercial vehicle fees for the weight they do carry.
3. To insure commercial vehicles have proper tags for the state they are traveling in – they pretty much have to pay to travel in all states.
4. They are a staging area from which to conduct cargo and or vehicle inspections, driver log inspections and conduct other revenue generating and or punitive type operations.
To make sure commercial vehicles are not overloaded and that the vehicle and driver are maintaining all safety requirements.
If I remember correctly, 80,000 lbs is the max a traditional semi can weigh without extra permits. This is the combination of truck, trailer and cargo. This also needs to be properly distributed across all the axles. If a heavier combination is wanted, then permits need to be purchased, which are supposed to help pay for the extra damage caused by the excessive loads.
The drivers and vehicles also need to maintain safety requirements. This ranges from properly securing the load, work/rest periods, vehicle maintenance, and ensuring that the company is paying proper taxes and has insurance.
There is also a security element to these stops too. They can/will check the background of the truck, trailer, driver, cargo, and all companies involved. Helping prevent illegal immigration, human trafficking, smuggling of various items.
To verify the loads do not exceed the weight limits for the road ahead also lets them pull logs and other compliance checks for operation. They also have weigh scales at truck stops so drivers can adjust the load and shift weight to comply when they hit the state-required weight checkpoints. just a single pin can make all the difference
They’re mostly for revenue generation just like most of what the police do. There are large fines for being just a little bit overweight. Then there are large fees to use a credit card to pay the fine because no one carries thousands in cash. Everyone is dipping their hands into the driver’s pockets
It’s a way to enforce maximum truck weight and collect weight related taxes from commercial trucks.
State troopers are also doing safety inspection of trucks. I would get pulled into a weigh station when delivering propane and they would randomly wave trucks to “the barn” we called it where a trooper or two would do a safety inspection checking the brakes, air leaks horn etc. if it failed the truck was put out of commission until it was fixed.
I thought you are talking about weighing scale for people around restrooms in highway service areas.
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