Didn't see a recent thread of this, so yeah.
To prompt discussion: Have you ever seen one open, and if so, where? Did where you see it have any influence on whether it was open or not? I don't ever recall seeing open. :poke:
Quote from: TravelingBethelite on September 03, 2015, 08:31:17 PM
Didn't see a recent thread of this, so yeah.
To prompt discussion: Have you ever seen one open, and if so, where? Did where you see it have any influence on whether it was open or not? I don't ever recall seeing open.
In many states, weigh/inspection stations are only open at random times. Maryland is an exception - they tend to have theirs open for much longer times (I will not state more specifics than that). I know of stations in Virginia are also open 24/7 or sometimes 24/5.
Weight enforcement is also taking advantage of so-called virtual weigh stations, where sensors are buried in the pavement, and the details are sent to nearby patron vehicles, who will go after and stop trucks after passing over the sensors that appear to be overweight, over-height or over-length).
I-81 in VA is normally open for all 4 stations. Rarely will i get a bypass, one is down for repairs right now, the one down by Roanoke.
I have seen many of them open many times. The ones on I-95 near Dumfries, Virginia, are almost always open. I've also seen some that seem abandoned, including the one on I-85 in Virginia.
It seems like the one on I-95 in Maryland at the Susquehanna is usually open when I go that way, whereas the one on I-270 in Maryland seems like it's usually closed.
The ones on I-95 in Florida have always been open any time I've gone through, although a lot of trucks bypass them with something called Prepass (I gather this must be something conceptually similar to E-ZPass but for weigh stations).
I've seen the one on 295 in NJ open much more in the past than I do now. When it is open, almost always the trucks go over the WIM scales at 35 mph then are bypassed back onto 295. It's a rare day when I see a truck stopped at the station; even rarer to see a truck in the massive parking lot or in the barn in the back, which has a depressed area to more easily look under the truck.
NJ also used truck mobile units extensively; many times on 295 at the Scenic View plaza (yeah, the same place that prohibits trucks). But in similar fashion, I haven't seen them for years there either.
I've seen the weigh station on I-91 NB in Vermont just over the Mass. line open on several occasions over the past several months. It was open yesterday when I went by.
I've seen them open many times. Opening times are randoml but the ones right past state borders tend to be open more often from what I can tell, or ones at chokepoints like the one in Islamorada in the Keys.
I've only seen the one on I-495 Long Island Expressway in Nassau open ONCE, its a horrible design requiring trucks to navigate two 5MPH turns then dumps them onto the Service Road and they have to go past one traffic light before they can get on the highway again.
The two Suffolk Weigh Stations past Exit 65 I have NEVER seen open, then again I rarely go out that far east.
Quote from: mariethefoxy on September 04, 2015, 03:31:53 AM
I've only seen the one on I-495 Long Island Expressway in Nassau open ONCE, its a horrible design requiring trucks to navigate two 5MPH turns then dumps them onto the Service Road and they have to go past one traffic light before they can get on the highway again.
That's because it was added in the area where the on-ramp from Bethpage State Parkway should've been.
Quote from: mariethefoxy on September 04, 2015, 03:31:53 AM
The two Suffolk Weigh Stations past Exit 65 I have NEVER seen open, then again I rarely go out that far east.
I've rarely seen them open either, but I know those were closed rest areas with lame modern adaptations.
Just got pulled into one via prepass (i will explain later what it is) and had the scale neon light go "Go ahead" not sure what that's about, i-55 in MS approaching TN, if anyone has a clue what that was about let me know, it's annoying at times.
Prepass basically allows the computer at the weigh station to know what company you work for, and determines if you are a bad company or not. If you have a low safety/compliance score, like your trucks are in bad shape, your're always over weight, etc, you are more likely to get pulled in. Some companies are not allowed to have it. It's sort of like a TSA Pre-Check, they're using the good faith of a track record to allow you to bypass the scale. Inside the cab is a blue box with 3 lights, Green Yellow and Red, yellow is a warning for battery life. Green means you get to stay on the road and keep going, red means come on in. Each company has a DOT# on the side of the rig, the prepass sends that ahead. You can look up the score of any company, tickets, accidents, over weight, etc all add up to what you get. I do think there is a fee for each prepass you get by a scale.
I couldn't tell you the last time I saw one open in PA. It must have been in the 1990's.
Considering the amount of commercial trucking through the state and the considerable revenue that could come in from overweight penalties alone, I don't pretend to understand why they aren't staffed.
In Oregon, I rarely (but not never) seem them open on US or State Routes, but the ones on I-5 and I-84 I've seen open plenty of times (probably more often on weekdays). I don't know much more than that as I'm not a truck driver.
Quote from: Chris19001 on September 04, 2015, 01:40:55 PM
I couldn't tell you the last time I saw one open in PA. It must have been in the 1990's.
Considering the amount of commercial trucking through the state and the considerable revenue that could come in from overweight penalties alone, I don't pretend to understand why they aren't staffed.
3 weeks ago i-81 northbound entering PA from MD. Frequently open.
I40/55 in AR at the bridges.
The weigh stations on I-93 in Windham (NH) are open about every forth or fifth time I pass them. However, can't say the same for Massachusetts. In my 35+ years of driving Massachusetts interstates and freeways, I have yet to see the State Police deploy portable scales at any of the pulloff areas signed as weigh stations - this even after they upgraded most of them around 2000 to be gated off and include illuminated advance signs.
The one on I-87 north in Clifton Park appears to open relatively frequently.
Quote from: vdeane on September 04, 2015, 07:24:29 PM
The one on I-87 north in Clifton Park appears to open relatively frequently.
Agreed. I don't go through Clifton Park very often in the course of an average year, but it seems that every time I do, the weigh station is open.
Quote from: roadman on September 04, 2015, 06:15:59 PM
The weigh stations on I-93 in Windham (NH) are open about every forth or fifth time I pass them. However, can't say the same for Massachusetts. In my 35+ years of driving Massachusetts interstates and freeways, I have yet to see the State Police deploy portable scales at any of the pulloff areas signed as weigh stations - this even after they upgraded most of them around 2000 to be gated off and include illuminated advance signs.
I've realized those Windham ones have been open a tad more often since the widening project started a few years ago. I rarely saw them open further before that time.
Every weigh station in WA is different in terms of when they are open. Some I have never seen open for years, others are rarely open, others are open about half the time, and some are always open.
The weigh station on Southbound I-5 at Bow Hill Rd is always open; take it from someone who drives this road every day and night.
Quote from: vdeane on September 04, 2015, 07:24:29 PM
The one on I-87 north in Clifton Park appears to open relatively frequently.
I'm surprised we closed the one down at the southern/eastern end of "Free 90."
I've seen the one on I-12 westbound, just after I-55, open a few times. I've also seen one or two in Texas open during my various travels through there.
Interstate 155 in TN has a frequently open, unmarked on any atlas "weigh station". I put it in quotes because they never scale, just inspect. No Pre-pass, nothing, they open it, all trucks come in, and get inspected.
I have seen the ones on I-80 between Lincoln and Omaha (both EB and WB) open, but only at night. I don't know if I have ever seen an Iowa weigh station open. As for Missouri, I did see the NB I-29 just south of the Iowa border open once.
I haven't resided in Illinois since the early 90s. I recall a brouhaha in the media shortly before I left that it cost Illinois $10 to collect $1 in overweight fines. I don't recall if the damage cost averted to the road surface from enforcing the load laws amounted to the other $9 or not.
Ever wonder what the max fine is for Iowa ??
It would be in the vicinity of $200,000 more or less. Assumptions being 2 million pounds of lead would fill a standard semi trailer, it would not collapse from the load, Iowa has a scale that goes that high, the load could be pulled far enough to attract DOT attention, would not destroy any bridges (unlikely these days) or the road surface sufficiently so as to prevent moving it and the fine is still around 10 cents a pound.
The province of Québec has 59 of them, located on expressways (https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.5921758,-73.2520586,3a,75y,89.9h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sff2cy-AvCPDzp81V-iaYLQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) as well as highways (https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.3664112,-71.7702447,3a,75y,244.15h,84.5t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1spzBMDBf--l3PRAVV7gKd2A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1).
Ministry of Transportation establishes thawing zones (depending on the latitude), along with thawing periods (from late March to late May in southern Québec) where weigh station are open 4 to 8 hours per day (average), but some crucial locations are open 24 hours. Legal load limits are lowered by 8 to 20% during thaw periods, as the roadway is 30 to 70% more vulnerable to pothole formation.
Otherwise, strategic openings allow the road safety patrol to perform planified operations : holidays, move peak (majority of the people moving do it around July 1st up here), etc.
Pretty sure that weigh stations are not a waste of money up north considering the fragility of the roads in Spring.
Quote from: thefraze_1020 on September 05, 2015, 01:29:30 AM
Every weigh station in WA is different in terms of when they are open. Some I have never seen open for years, others are rarely open, others are open about half the time, and some are always open.
The weigh station on Southbound I-5 at Bow Hill Rd is always open; take it from someone who drives this road every day and night.
Most of the ones I can recall off-interstate look as if they've been permanently closed for quite a while,although they usually still have normal signage (i.e. nothing other than the appearance of the station itself to indicate that they're closed and never opening again). Specifically I'm talking about SR 99 south of Federal Way, SR 410 west of Buckley, and SR 503 (I forget exactly where, but somewhere on the east-west leg between Woodland and Mt. St. Helens).
I've seen the I-55 (in-between IL-53 and Weber Rd) and the I-80 (between I-355 and US-45 LaGrange Road) open but at the most random times.
Quote from: ET21 on September 08, 2015, 02:24:51 PM
I've seen the I-55 (in-between IL-53 and Weber Rd) and the I-80 (between I-355 and US-45 LaGrange Road) open but at the most random times.
Same here. I've seen them open as late as 11 pm, but closed in the middle of the afternoon, yet open at the random rush hour. I think the ISP is trying to have no set pattern that the truckers can run around these weigh stations for, given that bypassing them can be easily accomplished.
I think the tollway has weigh in motion at some of main line tolls so they get the truckers that way.
Quote from: Kacie Jane on September 08, 2015, 11:45:25 AM
Quote from: thefraze_1020 on September 05, 2015, 01:29:30 AM
Every weigh station in WA is different in terms of when they are open. Some I have never seen open for years, others are rarely open, others are open about half the time, and some are always open.
The weigh station on Southbound I-5 at Bow Hill Rd is always open; take it from someone who drives this road every day and night.
Most of the ones I can recall off-interstate look as if they've been permanently closed for quite a while,although they usually still have normal signage (i.e. nothing other than the appearance of the station itself to indicate that they're closed and never opening again). Specifically I'm talking about SR 99 south of Federal Way, SR 410 west of Buckley, and SR 503 (I forget exactly where, but somewhere on the east-west leg between Woodland and Mt. St. Helens).
The SR 9 one in Marysville is usually closed.
Wisconsin's weigh stations aren't open very often with the exception of the ones on I-94. They're open more often since it has the heaviest truck traffic, and has the 2 busiest border crossings. There were 2 on I-39 north of Stevens Point that were removed. U.S. 41 south of where I-41 ends has a weigh station that is open often, probably as a way to disrupt truckers that use it instead of I-94 (Tri-State Tollway). Many trucks use that route to avoid the tolls between Milwaukee and Chicago.
I see the ones in Michigan open less than 10% of the time, maybe only 2-3%.
Interestingly, they often have a sign "Mobile Patrol When Closed" or something like that. I've wondered what that means. On Labor Day on US-2, at one of the scenic turnouts west of St. Ignace, there was a truck inspection station set up. I don't know if that is what "Mobile Patrol" means. As we passed, I saw someone in uniform walking around a truck looking at the understructure.
I should add that on I-43 Northbound Northeast of Beloit, WI there is a virtual weigh station, where there is a solid concrete surface and 2 cameras pointed to the slab. Not sure if it's experimental or something that will be seen more in the future.
Quote from: peterj920 on September 10, 2015, 12:41:02 AM
I should add that on I-43 Northbound Northeast of Beloit, WI there is a virtual weigh station, where there is a solid concrete surface and 2 cameras pointed to the slab. Not sure if it's experimental or something that will be seen more in the future.
Maryland is deploying these at many locations around the state, and I do not believe the state DOT regards them as experimental any longer.
Minnesota has two that are open regularly that I know of.
There's one on I-94 WB just west of the Wisconsin border, and I think there's one on I-94 EB near the North Dakota border (I'm not positive on that though).
There are a ton of closed ones in random spots all over the place though, including a couple on I-35 near Forest Lake, and further north towards Duluth that I don't recall ever being open and I'm 43 years old. I've always wondered exactly why they had weigh stations in those random locations.
There's one in Wisconsin on Hwy 2 just east of Superior that was open until recently, but I think they're rebuilding it right now (or else it's a new rest area - there's no signs as to what's going on there).
Quote from: discochris on September 29, 2015, 12:30:18 AM
Minnesota has two that are open regularly that I know of.
There's one on I-94 WB just west of the Wisconsin border, and I think there's one on I-94 EB near the North Dakota border (I'm not positive on that though).
There are a ton of closed ones in random spots all over the place though, including a couple on I-35 near Forest Lake, and further north towards Duluth that I don't recall ever being open and I'm 43 years old. I've always wondered exactly why they had weigh stations in those random locations.
There's one in Wisconsin on Hwy 2 just east of Superior that was open until recently, but I think they're rebuilding it right now (or else it's a new rest area - there's no signs as to what's going on there).
The static scales at weigh/inspection stations do wear out if the station is open more than closed, and when they wear out, they have to be replaced, a rather expensive operation.
Could it be that the scales are being replaced at these locations? Or are worn-out and the state has not seen fit to replace them?
Quote from: Chris19001 on September 04, 2015, 01:40:55 PM
I couldn't tell you the last time I saw one open in PA. It must have been in the 1990's.
Considering the amount of commercial trucking through the state and the considerable revenue that could come in from overweight penalties alone, I don't pretend to understand why they aren't staffed.
They do random spot checks (with the State Police) with equipment installed at rest areas - I've seen very few dedicated weigh stations. In fact, the PA Turnpike removed one of them (then again, they weigh every vehicle entering the Turnpike, so it is kind of redundant).
It is kind of silly they don't have full time weigh stations, especially given our important routes and the state of our roads.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on October 03, 2015, 09:14:02 PM
Quote from: discochris on September 29, 2015, 12:30:18 AM
Minnesota has two that are open regularly that I know of.
There's one on I-94 WB just west of the Wisconsin border, and I think there's one on I-94 EB near the North Dakota border (I'm not positive on that though).
There are a ton of closed ones in random spots all over the place though, including a couple on I-35 near Forest Lake, and further north towards Duluth that I don't recall ever being open and I'm 43 years old. I've always wondered exactly why they had weigh stations in those random locations.
There's one in Wisconsin on Hwy 2 just east of Superior that was open until recently, but I think they're rebuilding it right now (or else it's a new rest area - there's no signs as to what's going on there).
The static scales at weigh/inspection stations do wear out if the station is open more than closed, and when they wear out, they have to be replaced, a rather expensive operation.
Could it be that the scales are being replaced at these locations? Or are worn-out and the state has not seen fit to replace them?
They've literally been closed for 20-30 years as far as I know. I don't ever remember most of them being open. In fact, I wonder if they were built with the intent of having stations in those locations, and then changed their minds.
Noticed today that NHDOT has replaced the weigh station signing on I-93 in Windham with new signs. The new northbound advance signs, which are overhead mounted, have a large amount of vertical space between "Weigh Station" and the action legend - perhaps that's for possible inclusion of LED open/closed panels similar to the existing ground-mounted signs.
Also noted that the new "All Commercial Vehicles Next Right" sign just installed southbound reads "ALL COMMERCIAL VEHICLES AND BUSES MUST ENTER WEIGH STATION", instead of the "ALL TRUCKS OVER XX TONS .." legend contained in the 2009 MUTCD. While I remember seeing references to buses on weigh station signs in some states in the 1960s, I thought requiring buses to stop at weigh stations had been done away with years ago.
Thoughts on the latter?
In Mass, about 2-3 years ago I did see the weigh stations on I-91 near Deerfield open (both directions) with the State Police using the portable scale. That's the only time Ive ever seen any in Mass being used.
Quote from: roadman on November 11, 2015, 08:08:04 PM
Noticed today that NHDOT has replaced the weigh station signing on I-93 in Windham with new signs. The new northbound advance signs, which are overhead mounted, have a large amount of vertical space between "Weigh Station" and the action legend - perhaps that's for possible inclusion of LED open/closed panels similar to the existing ground-mounted signs.
Also noted that the new "All Commercial Vehicles Next Right" sign just installed southbound reads "ALL COMMERCIAL VEHICLES AND BUSES MUST ENTER WEIGH STATION", instead of the "ALL TRUCKS OVER XX TONS .." legend contained in the 2009 MUTCD. While I remember seeing references to buses on weigh station signs in some states in the 1960s, I thought requiring buses to stop at weigh stations had been done away with years ago.
Thoughts on the latter?
They probably want the buses to pull into the weigh stations
not for reasons of weight enforcement, but to be able to do a quick check for the presence of valid IFTA (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Fuel_Tax_Agreement) stickers and IRP (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Registration_Plan) ("apportioned") registration tags on the bus - and
possibly to subject some buses to a safety inspection.
In my youth, the ones I was most familiar with were on I-64 in Shelby County. They were usually closed when we passed them by, which tended to be either on weekends or late in the afternoon.
My travels now rarely take me past one of Kentucky's weigh stations, but my previous experience makes me tend to think they are generally open only during regular business hours on weekdays.
Quote from: MASTERNC on October 04, 2015, 03:10:01 PM
Quote from: Chris19001 on September 04, 2015, 01:40:55 PM
I couldn't tell you the last time I saw one open in PA. It must have been in the 1990's.
Considering the amount of commercial trucking through the state and the considerable revenue that could come in from overweight penalties alone, I don't pretend to understand why they aren't staffed.
They do random spot checks (with the State Police) with equipment installed at rest areas - I've seen very few dedicated weigh stations. In fact, the PA Turnpike removed one of them (then again, they weigh every vehicle entering the Turnpike, so it is kind of redundant).
It is kind of silly they don't have full time weigh stations, especially given our important routes and the state of our roads.
I-81 Northbound has a weigh station after you cross into PA, that is frequently open.
They like to set one up along i-99 before you get to 80 heading north. They pull you off onto a ramp and do it there.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on November 13, 2015, 08:13:01 PM
Quote from: roadman on November 11, 2015, 08:08:04 PM
Noticed today that NHDOT has replaced the weigh station signing on I-93 in Windham with new signs. The new northbound advance signs, which are overhead mounted, have a large amount of vertical space between "Weigh Station" and the action legend - perhaps that's for possible inclusion of LED open/closed panels similar to the existing ground-mounted signs.
Also noted that the new "All Commercial Vehicles Next Right" sign just installed southbound reads "ALL COMMERCIAL VEHICLES AND BUSES MUST ENTER WEIGH STATION", instead of the "ALL TRUCKS OVER XX TONS .." legend contained in the 2009 MUTCD. While I remember seeing references to buses on weigh station signs in some states in the 1960s, I thought requiring buses to stop at weigh stations had been done away with years ago.
Thoughts on the latter?
They probably want the buses to pull into the weigh stations not for reasons of weight enforcement, but to be able to do a quick check for the presence of valid IFTA (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Fuel_Tax_Agreement) stickers and IRP (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Registration_Plan) ("apportioned") registration tags on the bus - and possibly to subject some buses to a safety inspection.
Yes, I presume those are the reasons for having commercial buses pull into weigh stations, as opposed to actual weight enforcement. However, this practice appears to be unique to NH, and is apparently no longer the norm in other states (as evidenced by eliminating the reference to all commercial vehicles on the revised R13-1 sign in the 2009 MUTCD). That's why I questioned it.
I do not believe I've ever seen a weigh station open in Texas. Maybe once.
Quote from: TXtoNJ on November 18, 2015, 04:08:21 PM
I do not believe I've ever seen a weigh station open in Texas. Maybe once.
They aren't open often but when they are you better have your ducks in a row.
The ones on the Florida Interstate system are pretty much always open.
Quote from: roadman on November 18, 2015, 01:03:38 PM
Yes, I presume those are the reasons for having commercial buses pull into weigh stations, as opposed to actual weight enforcement. However, this practice appears to be unique to NH, and is apparently no longer the norm in other states (as evidenced by eliminating the reference to all commercial vehicles on the revised R13-1 sign in the 2009 MUTCD). That's why I questioned it.
Most Maryland weigh/inspection stations require buses to pull in. At one set of weigh station (I-270 N and S at Hyattstown), there is signage exempting commuter buses (which operate under contract with the state) from having to enter during peak commute times.
PrePass for Trucks (see reply #9 by Steve for an explanation) is used throughout the US, although hasn't been used in the Northeast for whatever reason.
That may finally be changing...at least in New Jersey. Driving on 295 yesterday, I spotted the familiar PrePass transponder on 295 North about 1/4 mile prior to the truck weigh station. No other signage as of yet so I figure this was just installed.
On the relatively rare occasions I'm on 295 near that weigh station - generally in the evening - I rarely see it open. When I do see it open (as I did yesterday afternoon), they appear to only care about the weigh-in-motion, and most trucks are directed immediately back onto the highway without needing to pull up to the building for a more intense inspection.
Trying to look something up regarding the PrePass system being installed in NJ, I couldn't immediately find anything. However, I did find that PrePass can now be used as an EZ Pass device as well, so truckers don't have to have multiple transponders on their windshields.
In Western NY, I don't think I've ever seen any permanent weigh stations open, but I've seen the "portable" ones in use at rest areas on I-390 and I-86 often.
I've seen the same thing at the US 15 Rest Area in northern PA Tioga County, and some of the I-80 Rest Areas between Williamsport and Hazleton.
I-40 west of Statesville, NC. Opens every now and then.
Last week, Pennsylvania had a weigh stations for northbound I-99 traffic set up at either Exit 39 or Exit 41 north of Altoona. (I don't remember which.) Trucks had to exit the highway. State Police were set up on the ramps, and then the trucks would get back on and continue on their way. I-99 doesn't have any truck parking or rest areas like PA normally uses as weigh stations.
Many years ago, while living on Kauai, every once in a while, the Kauai PD would set up a temporary truck weighing station on Hawaii 50 about a mile west of Lihue, across from where is now the Kukui Grove Shopping Center.
Maryland has a system of weigh/inspection stations around the state that are usually open at least some of the time.
But recently, the state has been installing virtual weigh stations on some of its freeways and arterials. These are high-tech systems, with weigh-in-motion (WIM) sensors in the pavement, as well as hardware to measure vehicle or combination length and height and video cameras.
If an enforcement team is nearby, they can use their in-vehicle video to watch traffic passing the virtual weigh station, and stop a truck that appears to be overweight, overlength or overheight for a roadside weighing with wheel scales.
Quote from: jemacedo9 on March 30, 2016, 09:47:15 AM
In Western NY, I don't think I've ever seen any permanent weigh stations open, but I've seen the "portable" ones in use at rest areas on I-390 and I-86 often.
I've seen the same thing at the US 15 Rest Area in northern PA Tioga County, and some of the I-80 Rest Areas between Williamsport and Hazleton.
I think the ones on I-490 in Victor are permanently closed.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on March 30, 2016, 01:37:45 PM
Maryland has a system of weigh/inspection stations around the state that are usually open at least some of the time.
But recently, the state has been installing virtual weigh stations on some of its freeways and arterials. These are high-tech systems, with weigh-in-motion (WIM) sensors in the pavement, as well as hardware to measure vehicle or combination length and height and video cameras.
If an enforcement team is nearby, they can use their in-vehicle video to watch traffic passing the virtual weigh station, and stop a truck that appears to be overweight, overlength or overheight for a roadside weighing with wheel scales.
Arizona has set this up as well. Arizona's setup is just before a Rest Area. Therefore, if a truck needs to be stopped, they can easily pull it over and into the rest area.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on March 30, 2016, 08:21:05 AM
PrePass for Trucks (see reply #9 by Steve for an explanation) is used throughout the US, although hasn't been used in the Northeast for whatever reason.
The weigh station on I-84 westbound entering Connecticut appears to have a PrePass system.
What's the deal with weigh stations in MA? In 22 years of living the only time I've seen one open was June 2012 on the Mid-Cape Highway.
The northeast doesn't seem to have them operational any time I've been up that way. Only Connecticut once I saw the EB I-84 scale open at the rest area and once saw the WB I-84 scale open. I-95 NB is open a lot, but that makes sense with the sheer traffic coming out of NYC. But, otherwise that's it.
Out west, Ohio I-80 WB is open a lot. I live near it and seems like it's open about 1/3 to 1/2 the time I've been on that stretch on I-80. PA only has one permanent scale I know of, that's I-80 EB near Clarion that is sometimes open. They have a lot of rest area scales that are open from time to time. And one on I-79 north of I-76 that's its own pull off, but there's no scales. They bring in portables for that.
OH WB I-90 was open once. I-70 EB was open once, but then seemed like it was closed up and boarded off for a long long time every time I've come east across there. Michigan has a scale on I-75 that I've seen open.
As for driving around, the western states seem much more intent. Nebraska I-80 seems to always have scales open. Wyoming as well. Arizona, New Mexico, and California (obviously, California...). Texas had a makeshift one set up at one of their picnic areas on, I think, I-40 once when I was out that way. I've been to Texas (DFW and Houston more recently) and never see a scale. Don't even know where they are, mostly. (I did see a rather snug fit one south of San Antonio on I-35 that was open, but probably more for US bound trucks from the border, it's tightly fit between the main line and frontage road. Not a lot of room).
Zigzagging around Kansas, I was surprised to see several setup at major intersections with little pulloffs in one of the four quadrants of the intersection. Once being open somewhere southeast on US400/166 area (forget where, this was years ago), but it had permanent signs that had the flip down open/closed signs.
WV has a really old one I've never seen open on I-79 SB below Morgantown, I believe. And I-95 in MD NB near the JFK bridge has been open every time I've been through there (but I think that's to monitor truck traffic on the bridge, as the cost of overweight trucks is much more costly).
Texas has inspection locations with no permanent buildings. In East Texas on I-20, they have about two locations between Tyler and Dallas where can they setup portable scales and do other inspections. They are open random days of the week with permanent signs they activate flashers on when they need trucks to pull off.
Google Streetview caught one when they were inspecting for livestock, https://goo.gl/maps/TqKFzN8BWj92 (https://goo.gl/maps/TqKFzN8BWj92).
Google Map view of a site West of Tyler, https://goo.gl/maps/jxaDRsdEXL52 (https://goo.gl/maps/jxaDRsdEXL52).
Quote from: Sykotyk on April 05, 2016, 11:27:36 PM
And I-95 in MD NB near the JFK bridge has been open every time I've been through there (but I think that's to monitor truck traffic on the bridge, as the cost of overweight trucks is much more costly).
I have seen it open.
Overweight fines there are the same as in the rest of Maryland.
The only bridge in the state with special (and extra-high) fines for overweight trucks that I am aware of is the William Preston Lane, Jr. Memorial (Chesapeake Bay) Bridge.
I was driving on I-86 in mid-March and every rest area between I-390 and I-81 in both directions had a temporary inspection station open.
In the course of my life and even after living in Warren County for several years, I have seen the weigh stations at the I-87 Glens Falls rest areas (that have permanent folded signs installed) open exactly once. Clifton Park is open much more frequently.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on April 06, 2016, 02:01:02 PM
The only bridge in the state with special (and extra-high) fines for overweight trucks that I am aware of is the William Preston Lane, Jr. Memorial (Chesapeake Bay) Bridge.
Of course, the associated weigh station is AFTER you cross the bridge - so they can get the fine, but they won't really prevent an overweight load from crossing.
When I used to ride along back in the early 2000s....I recall the scale on the 401 west of the service centre in Ingersoll was usually open, or at least 50/50 when we used to do (usually) weekly runs into Detroit. I recall in this time period seeing all the scales west of Toronto on the 401 and 402 open at some point or another, but the one in London was the one you were most frequently to hit.
Speaking of these inspection stations, ever seen the new ones in Ontario now? They are like freaking customs plazas, specifically the one west of Ingersoll, going both directions on the 401, as well as the EB 402 scale east of Sarnia, and the EB 401 scale east of Windsor.
The Halton Hills scale, which appears west of Exit 328, Trafalgar Road on the 401 is rarely open, but I've seen it open. An MTO enforcement division runs the scales in Ontario, and MTO enforcement can pull any commercial vehicle over at any place and do a roadside inspection if they need to.
Anyways, as a question, I was told that scales never appear on toll roads, is this actually true, or are there actually examples. I remember that being a huge complaint about 407ETR in Halton Region having a scale, when toll roads normally don't have scales.
Quote from: MisterSG1 on April 06, 2016, 03:48:51 PM
Anyways, as a question, I was told that scales never appear on toll roads, is this actually true, or are there actually examples. I remember that being a huge complaint about 407ETR in Halton Region having a scale, when toll roads normally don't have scales.
If we include the US in this, they do, but locations are very limited. NYSTA has a couple of signed inspection stations. There are 2, both located at parking areas in Albany's maintenance region. One is NB just south of Exit 20, the other WB just west of Exit 28. No signed inspection areas exist on the SB/EB side and I have never seen an inspection occur on the Thruway. Given the length of the mainline (just under 500 miles), the small number of stations compared to what exists elsewhere is quite notable.
Quote from: cl94 on April 06, 2016, 04:12:44 PM
Quote from: MisterSG1 on April 06, 2016, 03:48:51 PM
Anyways, as a question, I was told that scales never appear on toll roads, is this actually true, or are there actually examples. I remember that being a huge complaint about 407ETR in Halton Region having a scale, when toll roads normally don't have scales.
If we include the US in this, they do, but locations are very limited. NYSTA has a couple of signed inspection stations. There are 2, both located at parking areas in Albany's maintenance region. One is NB just south of Exit 20, the other WB just west of Exit 28. No signed inspection areas exist on the SB/EB side and I have never seen an inspection occur on the Thruway. Given the length of the mainline (just under 500 miles), the small number of stations compared to what exists elsewhere is quite notable.
Generally, that is the rule. Not necessarily codified, but it is the implementation. NJTP, Penna Turnpike, Ohio Turnpike, Indiana Toll Road, Illinois around Chicago, Kansas Turnpike, Oklahoma Turnpikes, Florida Turnpike (and other roads), Mass Pike, and NY Thruway don't have 'weigh stations'. They can still do enforcement at certain pulloffs (as mentioned above). Usually random pullovers, rather than 'all trucks next right' like a regular weigh station.
But, this generally a draw to USE a toll road. Consider the PA Turnpike is $252.45 from Ohio to New Jersey for an 80,000 pound tractor-trailer, the idea of enforcing weight (which PA adjusts price based on weight) isn't necessary. They get that through the WIM plates in each toll lane.
Though, I know that's not accurate, because I pulled up to a toll booth on PA 60 (now I-376) and was told I had to pay a higher truck toll for my little Chevy 4-door sedan. I threw the 50 cents in (what it was back then) and waited, and finally the arm opened by itself anyways despite still saying I owed $2.50 more.
Quote from: Sykotyk on April 06, 2016, 05:11:42 PM
Quote from: cl94 on April 06, 2016, 04:12:44 PM
Quote from: MisterSG1 on April 06, 2016, 03:48:51 PM
Anyways, as a question, I was told that scales never appear on toll roads, is this actually true, or are there actually examples. I remember that being a huge complaint about 407ETR in Halton Region having a scale, when toll roads normally don't have scales.
If we include the US in this, they do, but locations are very limited. NYSTA has a couple of signed inspection stations. There are 2, both located at parking areas in Albany's maintenance region. One is NB just south of Exit 20, the other WB just west of Exit 28. No signed inspection areas exist on the SB/EB side and I have never seen an inspection occur on the Thruway. Given the length of the mainline (just under 500 miles), the small number of stations compared to what exists elsewhere is quite notable.
Generally, that is the rule. Not necessarily codified, but it is the implementation. NJTP, Penna Turnpike, Ohio Turnpike, Indiana Toll Road, Illinois around Chicago, Kansas Turnpike, Oklahoma Turnpikes, Florida Turnpike (and other roads), Mass Pike, and NY Thruway don't have 'weigh stations'. They can still do enforcement at certain pulloffs (as mentioned above). Usually random pullovers, rather than 'all trucks next right' like a regular weigh station.
But, this generally a draw to USE a toll road. Consider the PA Turnpike is $252.45 from Ohio to New Jersey for an 80,000 pound tractor-trailer, the idea of enforcing weight (which PA adjusts price based on weight) isn't necessary. They get that through the WIM plates in each toll lane.
Though, I know that's not accurate, because I pulled up to a toll booth on PA 60 (now I-376) and was told I had to pay a higher truck toll for my little Chevy 4-door sedan. I threw the 50 cents in (what it was back then) and waited, and finally the arm opened by itself anyways despite still saying I owed $2.50 more.
New York does not toll based on weight, but that doesn't mean there aren't WIM locations that have the ability to get people. The NY side of the George Washington Bridge has WIM in the tunnel (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8464086,-73.9317039,3a,58.6y,115.07h,73.23t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sha2cGrtPq5JUcq6PBxSj5Q!2e0!5s20141001T000000!7i13312!8i6656) complete with a camera system to record the plates of overweight trucks, who then receive an overweight ticket in the mail. Because of where it is located, it intercepts all trucks coming off the bridge, as large trucks cannot use city streets in New York.
Quote from: Sykotyk on April 05, 2016, 11:27:36 PM
WV has a really old one I've never seen open on I-79 SB below Morgantown, I believe.
The WV ones on I-79, especially southbound, are open at least a couple times a month.
Quote from: Mr_Northside on April 06, 2016, 03:34:04 PM
Of course, the associated weigh station is AFTER you cross the bridge - so they can get the fine, but they won't really prevent an overweight load from crossing.
The MDTA Police have generally been more about weight enforcement on the eastbound side (toward the bridge) after the toll plaza but before the bridge begins. But the fine for a weight violation there is still computed as if the truck has crossed the bridge.
The one on the westbound side was designed just before the authority went to one-way tolling, and was intended to be used by flagging-down trucks after they paid the toll, so they have not been so enthused about using it, since they trucks now come down off the bridge at pretty high speeds.
Both stations were designed "on the cheap" with just a tandem scale, so weighing is a pretty slow process. Though I was there once when they were weighing trucks westbound and they had a tractor-trailer combination scale out at over 130,000 pounds on five axles (it was loaded with scrap wood). The fine for
that was well beyond $10,000 and the driver's boss had to come with another truck and forklift and off-load the offending truck to get it down to legal weight before it was allowed to leave.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on April 07, 2016, 03:51:54 PM
Quote from: Mr_Northside on April 06, 2016, 03:34:04 PM
Of course, the associated weigh station is AFTER you cross the bridge - so they can get the fine, but they won't really prevent an overweight load from crossing.
The MDTA Police have generally been more about weight enforcement on the eastbound side (toward the bridge) after the toll plaza but before the bridge begins.
The one on the westbound side was designed just before the state went to one-way tolls, and was intended to be used by flagging-down trucks after they paid the toll, so they have not been so enthused about using it.
Both stations were designed "on the cheap" with just a tandem scale, so weighing is a pretty slow process. Though I was there once when they were weighing trucks westbound and they had a tractor-trailer combination scale out at over 130,000 pounds on five axles (it was loaded with scrap wood). The fine for that was well beyond $10,000 and the driver's boss had to come with another truck and forklift and off-load the offending truck to get it down to legal weight before it was allowed to leave.
65 tons? Holy crap. That's insane.
Quote from: cl94 on April 07, 2016, 03:53:33 PM
65 tons? Holy crap. That's insane.
Yup. Especially on a long bridge like the Bay Bridge, which is in part a suspension span (and the deck is of a "lightweight" design, and most of it was recently replaced at a cost of several hundred million dollars), part deck truss, part cantilever bridge, and in part a "regular" highway bridge held up by stringers under the bridge deck.
That much weight is
not good for the deck, from what I have been told by
real structural engineers (I am not one). The state is putting in "virtual" weigh stations to protect the crossing, so that regular officers (not those with the extensive and expensive training needed to enforce commercial vehicle laws and rules) can stop overweight trucks and call out a certified enforcement officer or state trooper to issue the driver of the truck appropriate tickets.
The only time I've actually gone through a weigh station is back when we moved from Illinois to Kansas in 2007. Shortly before that, info came out stating moving trucks needed to stop because human traffickers were using moving trucks to transport Mexicans. Whether that was actually true or not I don't know, but I stopped at the one south of Marion (IL) just to be safe. Nobody was in the shack and nothing ever happened. So I kept driving really slow-like until I was through it. Kind of weird. The one on US-60 in south-central Missouri I simply drove right past.
Overweight raw lumber trucks have been a perennial problem for bridges across the Saint Lawrence between NY and Canada, in particular the Ogdensburg bridge. There was talk some years ago about putting in more modern weight monitoring equipment there, but I don't know if it was ever installed (WIM and whatnot).
The only time I've been thru weigh stations is when I've been plowing snow, so I'm not in there to get weighed. In NJ if you go thru them and they're closed, the arrows light up pointing you back onto the highway.
I've always gone thru the stations the wrong way, as it takes several passes to clear the snow and by only going forward, it would take much too long to get to the next interchange, U-turn, then U-turn at the next interchange to get back to the weigh station.
If you see the one along I-295 in NJ, there's a large shed back there. There's a trench within that shed which I guess is to do further inspections underneath a truck. It's rare to see a truck pulled up to the main building in the front; I don't think I've ever seen a truck within the back shed area.
Maine Turnpike in York seems to be open sporadically. Went thru in a 26' truck last month and was sent back to the highway via electronic sign. Looked like they were popping every other truck that came in. I've been back that way on 3 consecutive Wednesdays since, and the station was buttoned up.
I wonder how law enforcement is able to eyeball trucks with van trailers that "look" overweight to pull over with their SUVs/pickup trucks that have the portable scales in them.
Quote from: GCrites80s on April 11, 2016, 10:14:29 PM
I wonder how law enforcement is able to eyeball trucks with van trailers that "look" overweight to pull over with their SUVs/pickup trucks that have the portable scales in them.
It can be known issues with a company, other visible violations and they decide to check the weight as well, or random checks.
Repeat offenders (name/DOT numbers). Also, WIM plates located on the highway or scale. It may not catch someone 82,000 registered for 80,000, but it will certainly catch the ones 90,000, 100,000 or more.