Is DOT “After Us”?

As a result of the news story run by Austin, Texas, NBC affiliate KXAN about CoopsAreOpen.com, there are some rumors floating around.

One of these rumors is that Texas DOT is looking for us (and by us, I mean us here at CoopsAreOpen). They’re not. If they were, we’re easy to find. Just click “Contact Us” and send us a message.

Another one of these rumors is that CoopsAreOpen.com is giving truckers a bad name. We’re not. We provide truckers with as much information as possible about weigh stations, rules and regulations, and enforcement procedures. Information doesn’t give truckers a bad name. Organizations like CRASH and PATT aren’t going to like truckers whether we provide the information or not.

For those of you who’d like the real scoop about CoopsAreOpen.com, come look through the site, leave comments, contact us, and join our message board. You’ll find out that we provide you with a platform to share your knowledge and to learn from what others know.

The KXAN news story attempted to make truckers and CoopsAreOpen.com look bad. Reporter Matt Flenner started out his story by stating that KXAN had uncovered a “legal loophole” called dodging the scales.

Stunning investigative reporting? No.

In most states and on most routes, truckers are not required to cross a weigh station. You’re not allowed to blow past a weigh station- meaning if the scale is open, you can’t just keep on going unless you have a bypass transponder flashing green. But if you take a legal truck route that has no weigh station instead of a legal truck route that has a weigh station, you’re legal. Your route is your choice. Period. That’s the news.

We’re wondering if upcoming stories include “Driver Logbooks Can be Looseleaf!” or “Speeding Truckers Use C.B. to Learn of Cops Shooting Radar!”

When KXAN reporter Matt Flenner contacted us about the story (Truckers Avoid Weigh Stations By ‘Dodging The Scales), we knew we might come under attack. Why? Because truckers are easy targets. And anyone who helps truckers by providing them with information becomes a target along with them.

Matt’s exact words when he contacted us were:

I’m doing a story about your website, and whether it is ethical to give away advice to truckers to avoid weigh stations, especially those truckers that may have a dangerous load on board.

We’ve interviewed many people who think it is bad practice to provide a website to give away the information, especially with so many traffic deaths on the road due to trucks.

Would you mind telling us why you operate this website, and whether you think it is unsafe to give away this information?

“Traffic deaths on the road due to trucks” was the phrase that tipped us off to the negative slant in the upcoming story.

Our response was:

Why do we operate the website CoopsAreOpen.com?

There is a lot of information out there about DOT but it’s not easy for
drivers to find it. We operate a website that answers the questions truckers
are asking about truck scales, weigh stations, and DOT rules and
regulations.

The Rand McNally Motor Carriers’ Road Atlas is by far the most widely used
map among truckers. But weigh station locations are often incorrect, missing
or unclear on the atlas. We document the location of the actual weigh
stations- including the exit before, exit after and exact mile marker. This
is all public information. We just gather it.

Maps and mapping software also lack other information truckers want. A
trucker can use mapping software to attempt to go around weigh stations and
encounter unexpected low bridges, weight limits, truck restrictions, and
roadways that are unsafe for trucks to travel. We warn truckers that if they
are thinking about taking a certain route, they’d better think twice.

In other cases, we provide acceptable and legal routes to take. There is no
guarantee that enforcement officers won’t be patrolling those routes. In
fact, many states regularly set up impromptu enfocement check stations.
Enforcement officers and drivers alike can access the same information on
CoopsAreOpen.com.

Do we think it is unsafe to give away this information?

Absolutely not! We do not advocate unsafe truckers and we don’t advise
truckers to avoid weigh stations. We provide accurate information about the
legality of certain routes and about rules, regulations and enforcement
procedures that vary from state to state.

So, with that, we’re hoping to dispel any rumors you may have heard. And, as always, you can feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you have.

Tags: Texas DOT, Weigh Stations, Rules And Regulations, Enforcement Procedures, Truckers, Legal Loophole, Dodging The Scales, Legal Truck Route, Traffic Deaths, Rand McNally, Motor Carriers’ Road Atlas, Low Bridges, Weight Limits, Truck Restrictions, Enforcement Officers