Weigh Station

A weigh station is a check point located near the borders of most states (and some within states near highway interchanges) in the United States to check freight carrier compliance with fuel tax laws and weight restrictions. Weigh stations are regulated by individual state governments and therefore have vastly different requirements from state to state. They are typically operated by the states Department of Transportation (DOT) in conjunction with the state highway patrol, thus enabling enforcement of applicable laws. Many states also check freight paperwork to ensure fuel taxes have been paid and that truck drivers are maintaining logs of their trips (a federal requirement). If truck is found to be overweight the vehicle is ordered to stop until the situation can be fixed by acquiring an overweight permit. If a driver is found to have used up his allotted drive time for the day, he is ordered to stop and rest for a certain period of time until he is again in compliance with CDL laws. Fines are often imposed on drivers who have not maintained or falsified their log books.

Weigh stations are equipped with scales, some of which permit the trucks to continue moving while being weighed, while older scales require the trucks to stop. There are a variety of scales employed from single axle scales to multi-axle sets. Signal lights indicate if the driver should pull over for additional inspection or if they are allowed to return to the highway.

Carriers are required to maintain single state permits for each state they operate in or obtain a multi-state permit if they operate in all states. These permits dictate the type of freight that can be carried and the weight restrictions of each truck and trailer. They must also maintain carrier insurance on the vehicle combination. These two documents and the vehicles registration are the paperwork that weigh stations check when they order a driver to come into the office.

Truckers often refer to weigh stations as "chicken coops."

TAIWAN

In Taiwan, all Toll Booths on Freeway s also have weigh stations. Advanced signs tell that trucks must enter the weigh stations when the attached lights are flashing, usually when tolls are collected. Certain other highways also have weigh stations.

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Weigh Station