Prepass/scales Question

I follow the prepass unless they have the weigh in motion and lighted sign boards. I follow those if they have them. If you get a red on the prepass all it means is you must be weighed. If the lighted sign boards after the weigh in motion gives you the "OK to bypass" then they have already weighed you as good and you can keep trucking.

Yesterday in Chicago, the open/closed sign was off, but they were giving everyone a red on the prepass. You should have seen those trucks hitting the breaks and pulling off on the shoulders just past the scalehou ramp. It was crazy.

The ones who were in the correct lane (right) and pulled in got the byass lane. Those who cut across the ramp to get into the scale, got an inspection. The Care Bears were being sneaky. Never seen them do that before.

Yesterday in Chicago, the open/closed sign was off, but they were giving everyone a red on the prepass. You should have seen those trucks hitting the breaks and pulling off on the shoulders just past the scalehou ramp. It was crazy.

The ones who were in the correct lane (right) and pulled in got the byass lane. Those who cut across the ramp to get into the scale, got an inspection. The Care Bears were being sneaky. Never seen them do that before.

Happened to me in VA. Guy cut across me and almost hit me....speeding into off ramp. DOT pulled him in then smiled and nodded to me. I went right on by.

My company policy is if the signs say follow prepass signals, follow the light (green light-bypass, red light - pull in) if they use both signage AND prepass, follow both if they agree, pull in if you get conflicting messages (green light and message to pull in or red light AND ok to bypass on sign), if the prepass is not working or no light, pull in.... if not 100% sure pull in if open....

The way I look at it, its always to be safe and pull in... better to pull in and not have to instead of bypassing and getting chased down, pulled over and be given a level 1 on the side of the road along with a fine for bypassing a scale.... lol......

I'm not sure it matters what any of us think... if the OP's company has a policy, the driver needs to follow HIS company's policy/his training. Or, of course, he can discuss the policy/training with his superiors and get the clarification he wants/needs.

I'm not sure it matters what any of us think... if the OP's company has a policy, the driver needs to follow HIS company's policy/his training. Or, of course, he can discuss the policy/training with his superiors and get the clarification he wants/needs.

Well, it sounds like OP's company disagrees with itself on what the policy is, which is why he's asking.

I agree with ChrisEMT: if there's any conflict between prepass and the highway sign that lights up, go in. This has been happening to me often at the westbound I-80 scale between Omaha and Lincoln. I get a green light, then the highway sign says truck must exit. I go in every time. There's no bypass lane, so I scale it every time.

Once in Oregon on I-84 over by Idaho, the sneaky *******s had the "closed" sign lit but then gave me a red light on prepass. I went in because I just knew if I blew past it, they'd nab me. Good luck proving the sign said closed when you went past, I figured.

Once in Oregon on I-84 over by Idaho, the sneaky *******s had the "closed" sign lit but then gave me a red light on prepass. I went in because I just knew if I blew past it, they'd nab me. Good luck proving the sign said closed when you went past, I figured.

Yet another reason to run a dashcam...

Rick

No one has mentioned hazmat so ill bring it up. Some weigh stations require hazmat to pull in, regardless of what prepass or the lighted sign days (unless closed of course.)

So when I drove a truck with prepass I always fallowed the box in the truck. Green keep going it did not matter what the sign said, red or yellow come on in no light come on in. But you also have to know what states have prepass vs another system. The other think that happens is what you haul. The company I drive for know dose a lot of overweight, hazmat and over size. In CA we will not get a red light and if you call prepass you used to be able to find out what the green to red light ratio was. For the company I drive for know it is 100% red in CA. I drive with a drive cam so I have a record of the sign if I get a truck bypass weight station sign or a sign closed.

Driving through VA once the "flashing lights" road sign to pull into the weigh station was off. Then as I was approaching, it blinked on and flashed three or four times then went off again. Hells bells. Pulled into the weigh station not knowing what to expect and they green lighted me.

I think they were just messing with me to see if I'd pull in with little/no notice.