We run from Cincinnati to Green Bay on a regular basis. Indiana has a state scale on I 74 near the state line. There are no truck stop scales between Cincinnati and that scale. The freight that we haul out of Cincinnati tends to be heavy. That leaves us with a problem.

My truck has a drive axle air gauge. That is a big help. My steer weigh is consistent. It depends on how much weight is on my drive axles and how much fuel I have in my tanks. If I can trust the shipper to have given an accurate weight – no problem. I know how my empty weight. Figuring out the gross isn't rocket science. Just add the weight of the load to the tare weight of my vehicle. I know. Every driver should know that. Trust me. Some won't.

We use multiple trailers. They aren't air ride. If you have figured out your gross. You know what weight you have on your drive axles, and your steer axles. Calculating the weight on your trailer axles is just a matter of Gross weight – drive axle weight – steer axle weight. For instance you load weighs 42,000 pounds. Your empty weight is 34,000 pounds. Therefore your gross weight is 76,000 pounds. That is not rocker science. Know where 34,000 pounds is on your drive axle air gauge. Get close there and you won't have to scale that 42,000 pound load – IF YOU TRUST THE SHIPPER. We load scrap paper and I don't necessarily trust the shipper.

You need a scale and the nearest truck stop scale is 20 miles in the wrong direction. Check you phone Apps. Google truck scales. Ask the shipper if they know of one in the area. Ask other drivers. Local drivers will often know of one. For years I have been scaling trucks on a small truck scale on Para Avenue in Cincinnati. I found it by asking the shipper. This scale will only take $5 bills. The good news is that is all that it takes.

Remember where scales when you see one. Write down where you saw it. That may come in handy. CAT scales are great, but they aren't cheap. At last note it cost $10.50 to use one. There are some scales that I use in Wisconsin. One of them is in Francis Creek. It costs $9 and they will throw in a cup of coffee.

Gravel yards will often let you use their scales for a fee. We load out of Harrison, OH neat Cincinnati. Once again if you are heading up I74 there are no truck stop scales between there and the Indiana state scales. There is a gravel yard near that shipper. They let you use their scale. It is set up for dump trucks. Just get your tractor weight and then your trailer weight. It takes a little more effort, but it sure beats finding out at the state scale.  

Comments (2)

Jeff Clark

Jeff Clark of Kewaunee, WI has been driving a truck for 24 years. He has been an owner operator for 11 years.

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chetjester,
If I've misunderstood your comment and question then please forgive me. My guess is they want an accurate accounting of the tonnage coming into the facility and as you know your empty weight can vary depending on your fuel consumption. Recycling facilities do this too. They weigh all vehicles coming into and again leaving the facility on every trip. That way throughout the day as the trucks empty weight gets lighter from less fuel, they still get very accurate totals of the tonnage coming into the facility. Their accounting systems are set up based on tonnage throughput broken down either by the day, hour or minute depending on who is asking for the information. Aluminum is the highest value recycled commodity on the market today and aluminum theft is big business for those dishonest individuals. They are tracking this valuable commodity to protect their finances.

February 12, 2016 8:49:23 AM

Many times when I get a load near home (Arlington, TX) and I can take a day or two off, I know that I'm going to get a heavy load when I'm trying to get back to Knoxville for my every other week dedicated load to Nogales. I've had a few loads of crushed Aluminum cans going to Alcoa in TN. I like those loads but I hate that they require me to get an empty and loaded scale ticket. My truck doesn't get heavier when it's empty! I know how much it weighs and that doesn't change. But, I have to get an empty scale ticket. When I arrive at my pick up, they scale me empty (which matches my scale ticket) and then they give me my loaded weight. If they are really good, I can get an axle weight. But, I still have to find the nearest scale to get the loaded weight. They seal my trailer. I can't "steal" crushed aluminum cans from it. I arrive at Alcoa, and they ask for my scale tickets. They only want the loaded ticket. I then get weighed loaded and, after they dump my trailer, I get weighed empty. Does anybody see this as how our government works? Why am I scaling before and after? I arrive with a load and leave empty. That's what I carried. Geesh!!!!

February 11, 2016 17:11:32 PM