SCALES - WHICH STATES - CARGO VAN O/O's

dhalltoyo · Mar 14, 2006

I read a post regarding a cargo van driver being ticketed in Michigan for not crossing the scales. It got my attention because I am in Michigan a lot with my cargo van.

I have asked several people regarding the official ruling for the lower 48 states and Canada regarding scaling as they apply to cargo vans.

Does anyone know which states actually require cargo vans to scale?

If not, does anyone have a suggestion as to how I could find out?

late for dinner · Mar 14, 2006

dhalltyo, I am the driver who got the ticket, and there is no list that I know of that answers your question. However most states do a better job of letting the driver know who is to go in. IE: all trucks over 8 tons, all haz mat loads, ect. My own company, Landstar Express America knows of the Michigan rule and has not to this day informed the drivers. Fed Ex Custom Critical knows of the Michigan rule and I dont believe they have informed their drivers. We are all independant drivers and are responsible to know the rules and I believe the LEAM, FECC and the rest don't want to get too much involved because some driver would try to hold them responsible if the driver was to get a ticket and wasn't informed of some law in advance. My advice, would be, if the sign doesn't spell out who FOR SURE is to go into the scales, then just go through with the trucks. Happy Trails

hondaking38 · Mar 14, 2006

ok for those of us who have never been across a scale before..please expalin the procedure????speed, lights, etc etc...thanks

highway star · Mar 14, 2006

The scales have posted speed limits. If the scale has a by-pass lane there will be an arrow showing you to either scale or by-pass.

dhalltoyo · Mar 14, 2006

OK, now I am officially confused!

The company to which I lease my cargo van is based in Michigan. I contacted the safety director about the post on this forum. Here is his reply:

I called the Michigan State Police Motor Carrier Division and they said that a cargo van would only be required to cross a scale if it is towing a trailer. A cargo van is not considered to be a â€œtruckâ€. I also know we have never had a van get in trouble in Michigan. The only states I know of that require vans to cross scales are Kentucky and Alabama.

My guts tell me that there are other issues at work surrounding this matter. I would like to personally speak to the officer who issued the citation. Any chance his name or number is on the ticket?

late for dinner · Mar 14, 2006

OK here it is Michigan Vehicle Code <excerpt> act 300 of 1949 257.75 "truck" defined. Sec 75. "Truck" means every motor vehicle designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property. end of quote!!! It is plain that the officer that wrote the ticket understands the law the way it was written. It doesn't say transportation for hire, or over a stated GVW. By the letter of the law, someone who drives a GEO Metro, and uses it to deliver newspapers has to go into the scales. I think this is going too far but its the law. I'm still waiting for my court date and will let everyone know the outcome

greg334 · Mar 14, 2006

It don't matter if safety departments call, it don't matter if you are told by one trooper or another, the fact is that there has been a policy change at the enforcement level about this issue, you have to scale unless the courts decide to define the law for us. It is clear, it is published in their enforcement policies bulletin and tickets are being issued (know two drivers who have been ticketed).

The problem is that Michigan legislator decided to lower the definition of a truck to include everything under 10K but above 5K to generate revenue and make it so vague that it can be interpreted any number of ways - this is where the problem is.

late for dinner there are I think four statues that are involved. Michigan needs an overhaul of our lawmakers starting with that lying governor.

Here are two links on EO for you all to read

http://www.expeditersonline.com/dcforum/DCForumID1/3725.html

http://www.expeditersonline.com/dcforum/DCForumID1/3758.html

I would say scaling is easier right now instead of getting pulled over and ticketed â€“ and possibly get inspected.

Fkatz · Mar 14, 2006

hI,
These are the states that I know of that require you to scale, where it says that all commerical vehicles

Alabama and Log book
North Carolina
Arizonia possible log book
California & log BooK
Oregon and Log Bood
Wyoming log book plus permit book??
New Mexico
Michigan
ALL KY WANTS TO SEE IS THE MCC #'S ON THE SIDE BUT YOU MUST GO THROUGH THEM. OCCASIONALLY THEY MIGHT PULL YOU AROUND BACK

Frank

highway star · Mar 14, 2006

According to a TerryandRene post a few weeks ago, Kentucky no longer requires vans to cross.

dawggone · Mar 14, 2006

This is for DHALLTOYO: My name is Jim and our company is based in Michigan as well and I was under the same assumption you were. I spoke to Lt Archambault of the the Fowlerville post and he explained that we need to scale. If you care to e-mail me I will be happy to give you his e-mail address and you can contact me. As for me I will scale our sprinters when I am in one. I was getting conflicting answers and I had to know because I do not need a ticket. Hopefully this will help you.

Jim

Trailblazer · Mar 25, 2006

Add Virginia to your list of states that require scaling. An exact quote from the Scalemaster on I 77 south, "All commercial vehicles over 7400 pounds are required to cross the scales, better to stop here than 2 miles down the road."

Jim