You have likely pulled into a rest stop and seen a weigh station while driving on the highway. This might have prompted you to ask the question, “What is the purpose of weigh stations on the highway?”
Tractor-trailers must adhere to strict state and federal standards to ensure the utmost safety for everyone on the road. Read on to learn more about truck weigh stations.
Weight
Trucks and vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds must pull over at weigh stations. Although it depends on your location, you will often find weigh stations at entrance ports near state borders. Heavy machinery is dangerous to operate, and mandated stops ensure a vehicle’s gross mass does not exceed the weight it can safely handle. Many truck drivers travel with a portable scale to easily keep track of their truck’s weight as they off-load and on-load various products.
Regulations
There are several reasons why state and federal laws regulate vehicular weight. One of the main reasons is to ensure trucking corporations are not falsifying their records; this happens when corporations want to transport more products to increase profit. Additionally, weigh stations can conduct surprise checks to ensure a truck driver is adhering to all safety standards. During these surprise checks, state troopers review trucker logs to ensure drivers take breaks, rest for long enough, and are not driving for too long.
Dangers
Vehicular machinery of all kinds has its dangers, but when you combine extreme weight with fast speeds, it is necessary to take precautions; this is the purpose of weigh stations on the highway. The most significant danger on a highway is an overloaded truck—the heavier the truck, the harder it becomes to control. Failure to meet proper standards can result in the truck rolling over, which is hazardous and can result in life-threatening injuries.
