South Dakota scale?
- Thread starter bobwg
- Start date
All I can say is...the scaling weight is 8,000 GVW...They've never ever stopped me or made me pull in....I'll try to find out more...
They just got tired of watching goats, need somthing else to do. TN is also pulling Sprinters and cargo vans in. A 3500 1 ton van are to scale. Seems they changed the weight limits and a 1 ton just comes over that new limit by 360 lbs.
bobwg
Expert Expediter
Oh scaling weight in South Dakota is 8,000? did not know that that, did they change the weight recently? means I have to stop too my gvw is 8,550 been in this Sprinter since last November and no load to or thru SD so far
Same here at 8550....it has been that since I've moved here about 4 yrs now...Unless there has been a policy changed..they don't want us in there..But I'll do some checking...ya know states are strapped for cash and starting to enforce some rules more now...
The new dual wheel sprinters are 11.000 rated..maybe they just caught unto that?
bobwg
Expert Expediter
North bound on I-29 hoping South Dakota scale would be closed on Sunday like lots of other states, but no scale is wide open with big sign all vehicles over 8,000 lbs must stop at the scale ( Sprinter weighs 8550) I am carrying a placard load so no way take chance on blowing by the scale so pull in and cross the scale to lite to get the arrows to work so pull over and talk to DOT officer he asks what I have and I tell him 4 drums of paint he checks that I have 4 placards on the Sprinter and says you are good to go thanks for stopping
bobwg
Expert Expediter
Was told we can haul paint but all other haz mat the van or box truck must have a solid wall between driver and cargo
For HAZMAT loads that must be placarded in any amount, even 1 pound, the vast majority of those cannot be hauled in a cargo van even with a solid, sealed wall. Even a box truck, the box must have a wall and the cab must have it's own wall, they cannot share a common wall. Most explosives, most poisons, inhalation hazards, radioactive, peroxides and oxidizers, they generally cannot be carried in a cargo van, even one with a sealed bulkhead.
But stuff like paints, solvents, batteries, all Class 9 stuff, most of the things that are not HAZMAT if 1000 pounds or less, but are HAZMAT and thus placardable at 1001 pounds or more, those can generally go on a cargo van without any issues.
Often the people booking and dispatching this stuff aren't knowledgeable enough in HAZMAT to know for sure on many of the loads, so carriers come up with "sure bet' policies like "Paint only" (or "no placardable HAZMAT in a van," as Panther does). So it's important as the driver to know what can and cannot be carried in you van, whether you have a sealed bulkhead or not.
The other problem is van drivers having to log and scale when placarded, and many of them don't haul HAZMAT often enough to know and understand the HoS logging rules, and when you're placarded you are a for-real CMV and the log book has to be perfect, particularly with the last 7 days, and that's where many cargo van drivers screw up their log book. And a log book violation for a placarded cargo van is the same to a carrier as a straight or big truck log violation. Rather then take the time and trouble to teach vanners who will log part time to log properly, many carriers just go with the no-van policy for HAZMAT.
But stuff like paints, solvents, batteries, all Class 9 stuff, most of the things that are not HAZMAT if 1000 pounds or less, but are HAZMAT and thus placardable at 1001 pounds or more, those can generally go on a cargo van without any issues.
Often the people booking and dispatching this stuff aren't knowledgeable enough in HAZMAT to know for sure on many of the loads, so carriers come up with "sure bet' policies like "Paint only" (or "no placardable HAZMAT in a van," as Panther does). So it's important as the driver to know what can and cannot be carried in you van, whether you have a sealed bulkhead or not.
The other problem is van drivers having to log and scale when placarded, and many of them don't haul HAZMAT often enough to know and understand the HoS logging rules, and when you're placarded you are a for-real CMV and the log book has to be perfect, particularly with the last 7 days, and that's where many cargo van drivers screw up their log book. And a log book violation for a placarded cargo van is the same to a carrier as a straight or big truck log violation. Rather then take the time and trouble to teach vanners who will log part time to log properly, many carriers just go with the no-van policy for HAZMAT.
Who's "they"? Sounds like it'll depend on who's working when you cross. When I was at Thompson one of our vans was chased down by someone working the Tecumseh scale. The guy brought him back, did an inspection and told him he needed to stop when it's open. Someone from the Ministry sent a letter to Thompson saying to have the vans stop. There were guys saying that some of the other scales were pulling them around just to say don't come in. I just rolled across and was never bothered either way.
That is exactly what I meant Star...some will chase you down and some won't bother...like the mood of the day...
Why they have it that way is they really want the RV haulers and cattle ranchers with trailers..the combo units...
bobwg
Expert Expediter
Yes Greg thats what I was hauling
Jack_Berry
Moderator Emeritus
bob, did you get a weight or was it pass/fail?
bobwg
Expert Expediter
Pulled in seems Sprinter to lite to trigger the electric arrows that tell you which way to go in the weigh station so went on the scale and the electric sign didnt change so pulled around back and talked to one of the DOT officers that was checking out a big truck, he just looked at the paper work and checked the placards and said I was good to go thanks for stopping