Weigh stations are roadside areas where larger vehicles are weighed and inspected for safety. They help prevent damage to roads and ensure compliance with weight limits. Attendants may also inspect paperwork, cargo, and the vehicle itself. Portable weigh stations are available for temporary use.
A weigh station is an area along the side of a road or highway in which larger vehicles, such as tractors, are subject to weighing and inspection. These areas are equipped with extremely large scales on which the tractor trailer or truck can be driven, and an attendant will take note of the truck’s weight. Some of the scales at a weigh station require the driver to bring the truck to a complete stop, while others will allow the driver to continue driving on the scale without stopping. Sometimes a truck is stopped for further inspection.
The weight of the truck is measured at a weigh station to ensure the safety of both the truck driver and other motorists. Many regions of the world have placed limits on how heavy a truck can be to prevent loss of control of the truck or damage to roads. If a truck is going to a weigh station and it is over the legal weight for that highway, the driver will be pulled off the road until the situation can be resolved. There are two general ways to deal with an overweight load: a divisible load can be broken up into smaller loads and loaded onto another truck, and an indivisible load will require the driver to obtain an overweight license, which is a temporary authorization to operate on the truck. road. Such trucks will often need escort vehicles.
A weigh station attendant may also do other types of inspections of a truck in addition to a weight inspection. Vehicle paperwork can be inspected, as can cargo paperwork that describes what is being transported, where it is being transported, etc. A visual inspection of the truck can also be performed to ensure that it is operating safely and within all applicable laws. The driver’s fuel record may be inspected to ensure that all acceptable practices are followed and that all fuel taxes are paid. A driver can sometimes pay such taxes at a weigh station.
While most stations are permanent roadside devices, portable weigh station units do exist. These are useful for rural roads or temporary situations that require additional inspection and support. The system can be transported to a given location and set up reasonably quickly to accommodate truck traffic, and then torn down relatively quickly when the station is no longer needed at that location.
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