Scruit gets pulled over...

[Scruit]

I just took a 1400 mile cross-country road trip in a Penske truck. As I was crossing the Indiana state line (eastbound I-70) there is a weigh station (and a Trooper on the exit ramp)

Having been told at the Texas Penske location that I didn't need to stop for eith stations, I continued past. I saw the officer pull out and get behind me. I waited for his lights and pulled right over when he lit me up.

He walked down the side of the truck, looking in the mirror at me and shaking his head like ; "Not another one". I had the window wound down and both hands at the top of the wheel.

Me: "Is there a problem, Sir?
Trooper: "Did you see the weigh station back there?"
M: "Yes I did, Sir"
T: "And did you see the sign that said 'All trucks must weigh'"
M: "I did."
T: "And what are you driving??"
M: "Errr.. a Truck."

The trooper laughs and asks for my license and reg. He gets my license and rental agreement (Along with "I have to reach to my back pocket for my license, ok?" " I have to reach into the glove box for the registration, ok?")

He asked why I didn't stop and I told him that the Penske location in texas told me I didn't need to stop, but of course I believe the Trooper over the penske dude. I offered to double-back atr the next exit and go through the weigh station but he sent me on my way with a warning to be sure to stop at the next one.

Question: He said "All trucks must stop". This obviously does not include pickup trucks, right? So where is the cutoff?

[EricTheBald]

Far as I know it means that if you need a CDL to drive it, it's gotta be weighed.

However, I ain't the one who's gonna get pulled over....


Lemme go ask someone. I'll be back.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I'm back, and it's confusing.

Some states, like Nebraska for instance, give a pass to anyone driving a 1-ton or less pickup truck as long as it's not pulling a commercial trailer.
Some states want to see EVERYONE with a commercial tag.

MOST states only want to see vehicles 26,000lbs and over (CDL territory, like I mentioned)

[zander_zye]

You don't have to pull into a weigh station in CA unless you have over two axels.

Rental trucks usually don't fall into this rhelm as you do not need a commercial license to drive these types of vehicles anyway.

[Scruit]

That's what I figured... Only two axles. It was their biggest truck, only 500lbs short of needing a CDL. I don't have a CDL and didn't need one for this truck.

Here's a crappy pic I took with my phone;

[txinvestigator1]

Glad the Trooper was in a good move.

Are you moving?

[Scruit]

No I'm not moving - My company closed our Austin office. They had a ton of computer equipment they were gonna UPS back to our Ohio corporate HQ, but I volunteered to fly out and drive the Penske truck back becase it would be a $2k cheaper. Plus the truck would allow us to collect things that weren't worth shipping, but worth collecting.

Drove from Austin TX, to Columbus OH, with a detour to Cinci. 1400 miles over two 10-hour days.

I requested a 15' truck. When I got there they said the only had a 25'.

He wasn't in a terribly good mood - he acted in a way tghat could be best described as "Exasperated and irritated, yet trying to appear professional." As he was walking towards me he was doing this head-shaking, tutting and "You must be pretty damed stupid boy" mannerisms thing for me to see just so I knew he was pissed off, instead of simply walking up and talking to me. His breath stunk of whiskey also, but I won't get into that. :eek:

My point was that the sign saying "All trucks must weigh" is too vague - does it mean pickup trucks? Commercial trucks only? Only trucks with a bill of lading? and considering so many other states do not require rented moving trucks to weigh, if Indiana *does* then a sign saying; "Rented moving trucks must weigh" or "GWVR 28,000 or over must weigh" would save a lot of traffic stops.

He was very quick to accept my excuse and send me on my way after a quick glance at my license and registration - which I interpreted as either he hears it a lot and/or understands that it's an easy mistake to make.

Also, Penske should list on the rental agreement which states require their vehicles to be weighed.

[Scruit]

I have to add that the other 3 times I've been pulled over in this country, the officers have always been very curteous and professional. I was actually surprised to see this trooper take on the "Disappointed Father" routine that I used to see a lot from the Traffic Police in the UK.

[Stump]

Whats an axle? LOL

[sparrow803]

LOL Stump - for gawds sake - Axel Rose

[Scruit]

Axel Foley ?

[gdowkpc]

I've wondered the very same thing. I moved to Portland from LA County in a moving truck. Seems like I passed a 1/2 dozen weigh stations and I never stopped....but I wondered. But I also thought how rediculous if I needed to. The horsepower in my truck was so low I could't possibly haul an overloaded truck.

I did see some moving trucks in the line. They probably got laughed at....or I just got lucky. :p

[Stump]

I think Scruit got pulled over because he was the slowest car on the road. Maybe the cop thought he was suspicious because he was being so non-aggressive on the road. (Yes, this is carrying over stuff posted on other threads, but come on, its funny!!!) Smooches to you,scruit!!! :D

[mcsap]

When in doubt, pull in. If they dont want you , they will "throw you back like the small fish that you are". If they do want you and you bypass the weigh station, they can cite you.

I think it is apparent that the officer knew it was a Penske Truck as it was big and yellow and had Penske on it !! The laws on this vary by state so assume nothing.

In PA, this is for trucks of 10,001 lbs and up. Pa weight class decal 4B and higher.

As a truck with a GVW of 26,000 lbs or less you ar exempt from having a CDL. But you are still a truck.

As a Motor Carrier Inspector ( DOT) , trucks of 10,000 lbs and under are exempt from our inspections. Rental trucks are not exempt simply because they are a rental.

[gdowkpc]

I like the idea that he may have thought it was a leased commercial truck. Penske does a lot of that. Ryder and U-Haul are your two major moving van companies. Penske is probably a distant 3rd in that realm.

[mcsap]

I have inspected ( DOT) a number of Penske truck tractors and always foud them to be in EXCELLENT shape. I am to the point that I may not even stop a Penske truck for inspection. Plenty of other fish to fry.

FYI folks, the nationwide average of trucks being placed out-of-service due to serious equipment violations is...24%. Yep, one out of 4 trucks on the road has a serious equipment problem.

At our landfill ( we get trucks from PA, NJ, NY, DE and MD) we averaged a 62% out-of-service rating last year. If you see a trash truck coming up behind you, MOVE. The #1 reason we put them out was BRAKES. In fact the number one reason that we put all trucks out is brakes.