Rental Trucks and Weigh Stations

[Aequitas]

Good Evening,

I am moving out of state and I have rented a 26 ft truck with a car carrier, do I need to stop at the weight stations?

Thanks for keeping the roads safe.

[CGMK]

No.

[Aequitas]

Thanks, I didn't want to be the guy that pulls into the weigh station when he doesn't have too or drive by the weigh station when I should have stopped. Thanks again!

[makakona]

now, i'm no officer, but so far as i know, yes, you need to stop. we moved last may and i just rented one of the small moving trucks and was told when i rented it that i needed to stop at the scales. i never would have known before that conversation and i discussed it more in depth with the agency because i was so surprised. makes sense, though. can an officer weigh in? i'd ask the husband, but he's busy with one of those pesky drunks right now, boo hiss.

and for what it's worth, i'd rather stop when i shouldn't than not stop when i should. ;)

[Aequitas]

hmmm....hopefully an officer and chime in...

[Gittinready]

It is my understanding that all rental trucks must stop at the scales, but I will verify that tomorrow.

[25/31]

Good Evening,

I am moving out of state and I have rented a 26 ft truck with a car carrier, do I need to stop at the weight stations?

Thanks for keeping the roads safe.

Yes, you need to stop at the scales. The only scale you don't have to stop at if you are a 2x truck is the Gillroy IF. (W/O Hazmat).:cool:

[Chris142]

I thought that only trucks that weigh over 26,000 lbs had to stop?

[KC6MIE]

only trucks with two rear axles have to go through the weigh station .

[Chris142]

only trucks with two rear axles have to go through the weigh station .That can't be right. There's lots of 2axle big trucks around and they must stop even w/o a trailer.

I know whats gonna happen if I run past an open scale in this.

http://usera.imagecave.com/chris142/73096298-copy-copy.jpg

[Chris142]

I found this.

California Vehicle Code Section 2813 outlines who must stop at weigh stations and inspection stations:

2813. Every driver of a commercial vehicle shall stop and submit the vehicle to an inspection of the size, weight, equipment, and smoke emissions of the vehicle at any location where members of the California Highway Patrol are conducting tests and inspections of commercial vehicles and when signs are displayed requiring the stop. Every driver who fails or refuses to stop and submit the vehicle to an inspection when signs are displayed requiring that stop is guilty of a misdemeanor.

California Vehicle Code Section 260 defines "commercial vehicle" (bolding and underlining added):

260. (a) A "commercial vehicle" is a motor vehicle of a type required to be registered under this code used or maintained for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation, or profit or designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.
(b) Passenger vehicles which are not used for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation, or profit and housecars are not commercial vehicles. ...
(c) Any vanpool vehicle is not a commercial vehicle.
(d) ...

Now I'm just a dumb truckdriver but I don't think a U-Haul type of truck needs to stop at scales. When you are driving a U-Haul you are not for hire (unless you rented it to be used for compensation). Lets assume you rented it to move your personal stuff.

IMO it's costing you $ so your not making a profit driving it. But when a U-Haul employee is driving it to a U-haul dealer then it must stop since he's being paid to drive it.

Aww shux I dunno........ I'm still pretty sure that a truck under 26001lbs doesn't have to stop.






http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/trucks/weight/stopping.htm

[SB 405]

All I know is it's a good thing a bunch of us board members are not all sitting in the same cab of a rental truck rollin' down the freeway trying to decide if we need to stop or not as we approach a weigh station:lol:

[Chippysgt]

Well, I was not absolutely sure and a Sgt, even a retired Sgt, likes to be right. I went to my old friend who was a Valley Division MRE for many years and just retired a couple of years ago. For non officers, that stands for Mobile Roving Enforcement and they are commercial vehicle experts.

Here is his response and I believe it is correct.

My question: "Maybe you can answer and settle a dispute. Does a 26 foot, 2 axle U-Haul being used for personal moving, and towing a car carrier trailer, have to stop at the scales????"


His answer: YES THEY DO. IT SAYS NO PICKUPS THIS DOES NOT MEET THE DEFINITION OF A PICK UP. YOU CAN FIND THE DEFINITON OF THE PICKUP IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CODE.

I also posed the question to another friend who is the current Commander of the Chowchilla River Inspection Facility and he agrees with my MRE buddy, the answer is YES and he goes on to say:

Yes, it does. In fact, a year ago I had Cal-Trans erect a sign a mile prior to the scales stating that rental/box trucks must enter the scales.

[AyatollahGondola]

So what about pick-ups towing trailers? Is there a certain size weight type of trailer that places you in the scale line?
I've been out of the loop on this lately, and as I recall, there were several qualifying factors that would require you to stop at scalehouses even with a pick-up. I think some were being over 40 feet in combination, more than two vehicles in combination, more than 6,000 lbs of trailer weight other than rv, and any materials aboard that require placarding.
The pick-ups have really transformed these days. they haul more weight and tow more as well. I remember a pick up used to be 6,000 lbs or under and have a body under 84" wide at it's widest point.
I'm like you, I need to sit down and catch up on the CVC, but it can be time consuming and confusing too.

[dw]

This thread is a classic example of those who are not subject matter experts providing false information...

2813 VC is one aspect of this equation. Another is the regulatory sign outside each scale facility directing all trucks, except pickups, to enter.

Chippysgt pretty much summed it up and did what we all should do when we're not certain about something -- he consulted an expert. I am by no means an expert on this, else I would provide some more background -- but I do know for a fact that the original vehicle in question must stop.

[Gittinready]

I checked with the commercial guys as well and they confirmed you do have to stop. Outside the Rainbow IF an additional sign reads "RENTAL/DELIVERY TRUCKS MUST ENTER SCALES WHEN OPEN"

[pupdog]

Yes, you need to stop at the scales. The only scale you don't have to stop at if you are a 2x truck is the Gillroy IF. (W/O Hazmat).
I checked with the commercial guys as well and they confirmed you do have to stop. Outside the Rainbow IF an additional sign reads "RENTAL/DELIVERY TRUCKS MUST ENTER SCALES WHEN OPEN"

Wrong on Gilroy. I saw this exact same sign at the 'weigh station 1 mile ahead' sign for the Northbound Gilroy IF just this morning. Southbound you don't need to stop...nobody does at the moment, as it's closed for some construction being done on the building.

By the way, Gilroy has only 1 L, just like garlic (this is a very common spelling error for some reason).

[Chris142]

I've seen cabover container haulers in better mechanical condition than some U-Hauls :smile: What happens when John Public rents one and gets a ticket or red tagged at the scales?

[Chippysgt]

If the truck is safe to travel on, it is likely that the ticket would be made Owners Responsibility and mailed to U-Haul or whatever. That is all the more reason to check a truck over carefully before driving out of the yard and getting the name of the person who released the truck to you or who excepts responsibility for the truck.
If it is not safe to go on than it sits there until the corrections are made and John Q better get on the phone and get the company people out there pronto.

[makakona]

i'm adding chippysgt and dw to my list of people who (always) think i'm right. there are only three of us on there now, but three is more than my husband.

[Flying Pig]

Gittinready....

What does the smaller print say under "ATTITUDE" on your avatar

[SB 405]

I've seen cabover container haulers in better mechanical condition than some U-Hauls :smile: What happens when John Public rents one and gets a ticket or red tagged at the scales?

I don't think the larger truck rental companies (and car rental companies for that matter) keep vehicles long enough to have many mechanical issues. Most of the trucks I see on the road are newer models.

[Gittinready]

Gittinready....

What does the smaller print say under "ATTITUDE" on your avatar

It says, ATTITUDE, a sense of humor can make even the toughest job easier.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b307/yz450fracer/The_Smallest_Minority.jpg

[Flying Pig]

Very nice:biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

[Chris142]

[quote=Chris142]quote]

I don't think the larger truck rental companies (and car rental companies for that matter) keep vehicles long enough to have many mechanical issues. Most of the trucks I see on the road are newer models.

One would think so. U-Haul keeps stuff a long time. I rented one a couple of years ago and it was an 89 F-350 Ford.

The old stuff they keep for intown use only. The newer stuff goes state to state.

[E433035]

I don't think the larger truck rental companies (and car rental companies for that matter) keep vehicles long enough to have many mechanical issues. Most of the trucks I see on the road are newer models.
One would think so. U-Haul keeps stuff a long time. I rented one a couple of years ago and it was an 89 F-350 Ford.
The old stuff they keep for intown use only. The newer stuff goes state to state.
That sounds about right! U-Haul rented me a '72 Ford 24' truck in '89. That beast had a busted fuel gauge that left me out of gas and stranded smack dab in the middle of making a left at a busy intersection during the Friday PM commute. I think I mentioned this in another thread but a Campbell PD Crown Vic with pushbar got my fully loaded truck outta there all by itself. :shock:

[wolter]

When I worked for Caltrans, we NEVER stopped at scales. Even when hauling a 27,000# front end loader to the opposite end of a District. But, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone else! :biggrin: