The #1 Resource for Weigh Station and Truck Safety Information
Recent Trucking News & Articles
There is no official language in the United States. But, for truckers, understanding the English language is a requirement. Some states do allow parts of the commercial driver's license examination to be taken in a language other than English, but all applicants for a commercial driver's license are required to be able to communicate in English. Period.
With all the talk about Mexican truckers coming over the border, this requirement to be able to communicate in English could come to the forefront of trucking news in the near future. But French-speaking truckers from Canada, Arabic-speaking truckers from the Middle East and Polish-speaking truckers from Europe (as well as those from other European countries who speak a variety of languages) have also had to comply with the English-speaking requirement.
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The 2290 Heavy Higway Vehicle Use Tax is a $550 federal excise tax that must be paid on all vehicles that weigh 55,000 lbs or more and operate on public highways. The reporting period is from July 1st in any given year to June 30 the next year. The tax bill that is currently due is for the reporting period of July 1st, 2008, through June 30, 2009. If the vehicle will not put on more than 5,000 miles in the coming year (or, if it is agricultural, if it won't put on more than 7,500 miles in the year), the $550 payment isn't required, but you still must file form 2290.
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Fuel theft has always been a concern in the trucking industry. But with average fuel prices on the verge of breaking the $5 per gallon mark, it's becoming an epidemic. High fuel prices are putting a squeeze on truckers, and some of them are getting desperate. Some are considering stealing fuel from other drivers for use in their own trucks. Others are considering stealing fuel in order to sell it to truckers who want to pay less. Either way, truck owners are getting nervous about the go-go juice.
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50 Truckers - 50 Answers
You can ask 50 truckers the same question and get 50 different answers. That's why we bypassed the trucker stories and went straight to the people who enforce the laws. Ever wonder what it's going to cost you if you get caught over weight? Will they let you go? Will they put you out of service? Will it go on your driving record? Is it legal to go around the truck scales?
This site is dedicated to the truckers who want the answers, not the tall tales. It is designed by drivers, for drivers. We have combined OTR experience of 20 years and a lot of friends who have been in the industry at least that long. We have talked to state DOT officers, state highway patrol and truck scale masters. In most cases, we got the answers we were looking for. Some states required a little coaxing and only a few refused to answer.
Did you know that in some states it is completely legal to go around the truck scale on state routes? That in some states, dodging the truck scale is more costly than just going over it heavy? That some states will let you go if you are over gross? That not all states will make you offload?
Don't assume you know the laws for the state you are driving through, KNOW you know them. Be informed, not just entertained!
We provide the information about truck scale locations, procedures, tolerance allowances and alternate routes when needed. We do not condone running illegal. But we don't think you should assume that something is illegal, either. We want to arm you, the driver, with the information to choose the best course of action for your circumstances.
Weigh station locations are determined from state DOT websites, trucking maps and by personally driving by them on the freeway. We have made every attempt to be sure all information is accurate. If you notice any mistakes, contact us- this is YOUR website.
Truck scale phone numbers are sourced from highway patrol offices, DOT offices and state DOT websites. We list the exit before and after the weigh station wherever possible and mark down any truck parking we know of.
