Weigh stations

[ET21]

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.

[Brandon]

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.

[Joe The Dragon]

I think the tollway has weigh in motion at some of main line tolls so they get the truckers that way.

[Bruce]

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.

[peterj920]

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.

[GaryV]

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.

[peterj920]

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. 

[cpzilliacus]

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.

[discochris]

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).

[cpzilliacus]

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?

[MASTERNC]

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.

[discochris]

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.

[roadman]

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?

[Beeper1]

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.

[cpzilliacus]

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 stickers and IRP ("apportioned") registration tags on the bus - and possibly to subject some buses to a safety inspection.

[hbelkins]

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.

[SteveG1988]

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.

[roadman]

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 stickers and IRP ("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.

[TXtoNJ]

I do not believe I've ever seen a weigh station open in Texas. Maybe once.

[allniter89]

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.

[Alex]

The ones on the Florida Interstate system are pretty much always open.

[cpzilliacus]

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.

[jeffandnicole]

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.

[jemacedo9]

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.

[Katavia]

I-40 west of Statesville, NC. Opens every now and then.