Pickup Trucks and Weigh Stations

 DOT Pickup Truck Rules

For commercial truck drivers, weigh stations are a normal part of the job. They inspect the size, weight, and smoke emissions of every commercial vehicle, among other things. But for a truck driver who does not deal with weigh stations on a daily basis, or a business that primarily use cars and just recently added a truck to their fleet, the DOT process can be unfamiliar.
You need to stop at a weigh station if you drive:

• A commercial vehicle: defined as a vehicle used primarily for the transportation of property
• 1/2 and 3/4 ton pickup trucks are excluded from the weigh station unless they include a utility body (VC Section 471) in California
• If a commercial vehicle is over 10,000 lbs it must go through the weigh station (regardless of the cargo content)
• Cargo vans must stop at the weigh station

Commercial truck drivers must provide the DOT with documentation at the weigh station, even if they are remaining in-state. Documentations include:

• Proof of medical examinations
• Driver files and training documentation if applies
• Log of hours spent on the road
• An inspection of the vehicle should be done before and after the trip

The Department of Transportation is pushing to use more virtual weigh stations as a way to make the process more efficient. How can you avoid the weigh station all together?

Transferability Changes Everything

Transferability:
Pickup trucks with bolt-on utility bodies are required to stop at the weigh stations in some states, including California. Fleetwest Transferable Truck Bodies are not bolted on. Drivers with Load'N'Go service bodies are able to by-pass the weigh stations, saving time and avoiding the documentation process noted above. Durashell service bodies by Fleetwest are a great van alternative and can also save you from the weigh station process because they are not bolted onto the bed of your pickup truck. Avoiding weigh stations is another reason transferability adds value to your work truck.

Call your Fleetwest representative toll-free at 866-497-7200 to get a quote.