Scaling

TheOGExpediterGuy

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Ok y'all unless you have hazmat aboard here are the rules about scaling...You DO NOT HAVE TO SCALE nor are you a commercial vehicle unless you are over 10,000 pounds...or hauling a certain weight of Hazmat...:) Case Solved...
 

mjmsprt40

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Ok y'all unless you have hazmat aboard here are the rules about scaling...You DO NOT HAVE TO SCALE nor are you a commercial vehicle unless you are over 10,000 pounds...or hauling a certain weight of Hazmat...:) Case Solved...

In Ohio. The problem is that each state plays by their own rules, and that's what makes this business so much fun.

Here in Illinois, if you're under 16,000 lbs GVW you don't have to scale. One state at least has their minimum set at 26,000 GVW.

Ohio is at 10,000, which would make me have to scale if I pull more than a really small trailer (CGVW could easily be over 10,000 even with a moderate trailer).

Some states seem to want everybody except passenger cars to scale. Ye names yer poison, and ye takes yer pick.
 

TheOGExpediterGuy

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
FMCSA Handbook says Nothing Under 10.001 pounds is commercial...So if your under 10,001 you don't have to anywhere...lol
 

greg334

Veteran Expediter
The FMCSA regulations can be rejected as much as a state can make their own rules. So if Michigan says 5500 lbs is the threshold, than it is 5500 lbs.
 

Moot

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Special note: Even if you don't have to scale, you still have to use good sense. I recently turned down a run because the load, at 3,600 lbs, would have pushed me overweight. Maybe not by much...

I guess maybe not by much is a relative quantity. To me 30% over gross is way to much. A GM 2500 has a GVWR of 7300 pounds. The base payload is in the 2300 pound range.

In my case, I have Illinois "B" plates and that gives me 8,000 lbs GVW, I have to keep that in mind.

Check the sticker on your driver's side door jamb. That is your GVWR. It doesn't matter what weight your license plate
states. My Chevrolet 3500 which has a GVWR of 9600 pounds is plated in Minnesota. The little sticker on my license plate states 10,000 pounds GVW, it also states 10,000 lakes. Either way, 10,000 pounds or 10,000 lakes would put me over the manufacturer's GVWR of 9600 pounds.
 

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
I guess maybe not by much is a relative quantity. To me 30% over gross is way to much. A GM 2500 has a GVWR of 7300 pounds. The base payload is in the 2300 pound range.



Check the sticker on your driver's side door jamb. That is your GVWR. It doesn't matter what weight your license plate
states. My Chevrolet 3500 which has a GVWR of 9600 pounds is plated in Minnesota. The little sticker on my license plate states 10,000 pounds GVW, it also states 10,000 lakes. Either way, 10,000 pounds or 10,000 lakes would put me over the manufacturer's GVWR of 9600 pounds.
Yep me too a 10,000 lb plate for a 8550 GVWR
 

chefdennis

Veteran Expediter
Please!!....are people really this anal about this!?!? Like I said 2 scales in 5yrs and both were to just get a reaction...
I don't scale and have no intension of starting anytime soon in any state at all, including Virginia...what are they going to do to me? Take my birthday away!?!? :rolleyes:
 

Turtle

Administrator
Staff member
Retired Expediter
You people need to learn the difference between a "commercial vehicle" and a "commercial motor vehicle". There is a difference, and it's a big one. It's the difference between being regulated by the DOT, and not.

Some also need to learn the difference between their GVWR and what it means, and what their plate is rated for and what it means. One has to do with much you can safely haul, the other has to do with how much you pay in taxes and registration fees to your state.
 

mjmsprt40

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
I guess maybe not by much is a relative quantity. To me 30% over gross is way to much. A GM 2500 has a GVWR of 7300 pounds. The base payload is in the 2300 pound range.



Check the sticker on your driver's side door jamb. That is your GVWR. It doesn't matter what weight your license plate
states. My Chevrolet 3500 which has a GVWR of 9600 pounds is plated in Minnesota. The little sticker on my license plate states 10,000 pounds GVW, it also states 10,000 lakes. Either way, 10,000 pounds or 10,000 lakes would put me over the manufacturer's GVWR of 9600 pounds.

Just so's you know: The GVWR of my 2500 is 8550 lbs. At least, that's according to the lie on the door-jam sticker. For 500 lbs I'm not going to quibble and I'll load to the license, since it's lower and in this situation is the one that would get me into trouble first.

Legally, you're restricted to the lower of the two anyway... whether it's what you're licensed for or it's what the builder's plate says-- the lower weight rating rules when you're pulled over for a check. So, if your truck is rated for 7300 lbs on the builder's plate but you're running Illinois "B" plates (which are standard-issue for most light trucks around here)-- your maximum legal weight is 7300 lbs.
 
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OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
Just so's you know: The GVWR of my 2500 is 8550 lbs. At least, that's according to the lie on the door-jam sticker. For 500 lbs I'm not going to quibble and I'll load to the license, since it's lower and in this situation is the one that would get me into trouble first.

Legally, you're restricted to the lower of the two anyway... whether it's what you're licensed for or it's what the builder's plate says-- the lower weight rating rules when you're pulled over for a check. So, if your truck is rated for 7300 lbs on the builder's plate but you're running Illinois "B" plates (which are standard-issue for most light trucks around here)-- your maximum legal weight is 7300 lbs.

SD is much the same way...Scaling there is 8,000 lb...but they don't want us vans in there...I could have bought an 8,000 tag BUT as was explained to me....IF I ever went thru SD loaded to the max of 8550....I am over what taxes I've paid and subject to fine...not over weight for the van...overweight for the taxes paid..
 

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
SD is much the same way...Scaling there is 8,000 lb...but they don't want us vans in there...I could have bought an 8,000 tag BUT as was explained to me....IF I ever went thru SD loaded to the max of 8550....I am over what taxes I've paid and subject to fine...not over weight for the van...overweight for the taxes paid..

Wyoming...VANS...IF passing thru you do not need to go into port of entry..IF you are delivering WITHIN the state you MUST at least report in and show license and BOL they don't scale you...
 

guido4475

Not a Member
You people need to learn the difference between a "commercial vehicle" and a "commercial motor vehicle". There is a difference, and it's a big one. It's the difference between being regulated by the DOT, and not.

Some also need to learn the difference between their GVWR and what it means, and what their plate is rated for and what it means. One has to do with much you can safely haul, the other has to do with how much you pay in taxes and registration fees to your state.

Would you care to elaborate on the difference between a commercial motor vehicle and a commercial vehicle, for those who may not know?Thank you!:D
 

guido4475

Not a Member
It has been discussed many a time....do a search...there IS a difference...:p

I dont have the time at the moment...Besides, I am not disputing this, just asking for info...totally agreeing with you and Turtle on this one.

going outside to hang Christmas lights......:eek:
 

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
I dont have the time at the moment...Besides, I am not disputing this, just asking for info...totally agreeing with you and Turtle on this one.

going outside to hang Christmas lights......:eek:

Looking forward to Turtle's 3/4 page response now...LOL
 

Turtle

Administrator
Staff member
Retired Expediter
Just so's you know: The GVWR of my 2500 is 8550 lbs. At least, that's according to the lie on the door-jam sticker. For 500 lbs I'm not going to quibble and I'll load to the license, since it's lower and in this situation is the one that would get me into trouble first.
Depends on where you are when checked.

Legally, you're restricted to the lower of the two anyway... whether it's what you're licensed for or it's what the builder's plate says-- the lower weight rating rules when you're pulled over for a check.
It depends. If you are pulled over in Illinois, where you vehicle is registered, and you are exceeding the plated weight but not the GVWR, they'll nail you for exceeding the plated weight, and will do so for tax revenue purposes. If you are pulled over in another state, they could care less about enforcing the tax laws of Illinois, and they will only concern themselves with the GVWR of the vehicle.

The GVWR of the vehicle and the plate registration weight are two very different things, each used for very different reasons, and have nothing whatsoever to do with each other. One is a safety issue, the other is a tax revenue issue.
 
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Turtle

Administrator
Staff member
Retired Expediter
Would you care to elaborate on the difference between a commercial motor vehicle and a commercial vehicle, for those who may not know?Thank you!:D
Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) means a motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles used in commerce to transport passengers or property if the motor vehicle—

(1) Has a gross combination weight rating or gross combination weight of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more), whichever is greater, inclusive of a towed unit(s) with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds), whichever is greater; or

(2) Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of 11,794 or more kilograms (26,001 pounds or more), whichever is greater; or

(3) Is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver; or

(4) Is of any size and is used in the transportation of hazardous material (HAZMAT) as defined by 49 U.S.C. 5103 and is required to be placarded under subpart F of 49 CFR Part 172 or is transporting any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 CFR Part 73.


A Commercial Vehicle is any vehicle titled or registered to a company, corporation or other business entity, and can include (in addition to CMVs), fleet vehicles, company cars, and other vehicles used for business, including vehicles used for business but is in an individual's name such as a sole proprietor, and leased vehicles registered in the name of the financial institution that owns it.


So, basically, a Commercial Vehicle is any vehicle used in business, and a Commercial Motor Vehicle is any vehicle subject to regulation by the DOT. The two terms are not interchangeable. This information is part of the basic knowledge set for your job. It is the foundation on which your business is built. Those who are driving in the transportation industry without knowing whether they are driving a Commercial Motor Vehicle have no business in this business.
 

guido4475

Not a Member
Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) means a motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles used in commerce to transport passengers or property if the motor vehicle—

(1) Has a gross combination weight rating or gross combination weight of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more), whichever is greater, inclusive of a towed unit(s) with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds), whichever is greater; or

(2) Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of 11,794 or more kilograms (26,001 pounds or more), whichever is greater; or

(3) Is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver; or

(4) Is of any size and is used in the transportation of hazardous material (HAZMAT) as defined by 49 U.S.C. 5103 and is required to be placarded under subpart F of 49 CFR Part 172 or is transporting any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 CFR Part 73.


A Commercial Vehicle is any vehicle titled or registered to a company, corporation or other business entity, and can include (in addition to CMVs), fleet vehicles, company cars, and other vehicles used for business, including vehicles used for business but is in an individual's name such as a sole proprietor, and leased vehicles registered in the name of the financial institution that owns it.


So, basically, a Commercial Vehicle is any vehicle used in business, and a Commercial Motor Vehicle is any vehicle subject to regulation by the DOT. The two terms are not interchangeable. This information is part of the basic knowledge set for your job. It is the foundation on which your business is built. Those who are driving in the transportation industry without knowing whether they are driving a Commercial Motor Vehicle have no business in this business.

Thank you for the info! I am sure this will be a benefit to others! The sad part of it is, this last paragraph should not only be limited to drivers alone.It is amazing how many fleet owners, owners, co. owners as well, who do not know how to change a headlight, let alone this kind of knowledge.I'm not saying all, but there are some out there, as we all know.
 
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