Weigh stations

[Bitmapped]

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.

[hm insulators]

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.

[cpzilliacus]

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.

[RobbieL2415]

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.

[ztonyg]

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.

[roadman]

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.

[RobbieL2415]

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.

[Sykotyk]

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).

[wtd67]

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.

Google Map view of a site West of Tyler, https://goo.gl/maps/jxaDRsdEXL52.

[cpzilliacus]

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.

[cl94]

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.

[Mr_Northside]

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.

[MisterSG1]

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.

[cl94]

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.

[Sykotyk]

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.

[cl94]

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 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.

[Bitmapped]

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.

[cpzilliacus]

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.

[cl94]

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.

[cpzilliacus]

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.

[kphoger]

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.

[Rothman]

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).

[jeffandnicole]

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.

[Dan]

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.

[GCrites]

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.