Do motorhomes have to stop at weigh stations in California?
The most common question RV owners have in regards to weigh stations is whether or not they are required to stop at them or not. In almost every case, the answer is no. To begin with, if your Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) is less than 10,000 pounds, there is no reason to stop at a weigh station.
Discussion: Rental trucks can be a U-Haul, Ryder, Sears, Budget, Enterprise, etc. A rental truck is a motor truck, according to CVC Section 410, and must stop at the weigh stations.
In California, anyone operating a truck that weighs more than 10,000 lbs. must stop at a Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility, as required by the California Department of Transportation (DOT) and enforced by California Highway Patrol (CHP).
Trucks have to stop at scale houses if they are over the minimum weight, which varies by state. In general, commercial and non-commercial trucks must stop at every weigh station they pass if they are over 10,000 pounds.
A motorhome is a noncommercial passenger vehicle defined in the California Vehicle Code (CVC) Section 465 as a “house car” and commonly referred to as a recreation vehicle, “a motor vehicle originally designed, or permanently altered, and equipped for human habitation, or to which a camper has been permanently attached ...
The most common question RV owners have in regards to weigh stations is whether or not they are required to stop at them or not. In almost every case, the answer is no. To begin with, if your Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) is less than 10,000 pounds, there is no reason to stop at a weigh station.
Drivers run the risk of being fired or put on probation. Most fleet companies have zero tolerance for this. Drivers may be asked to turn their trucks around and return to the missed weigh station, resulting in vital lost travel time. Once returned to the weigh station, the truck may be subject to an inspection.
A California public weighmaster's certificate of the vehicle's unladen or empty weight is required for trucks and pickups.
If you're trying to avoid the weigh stations, you can either take an alternate route or wait until the weigh station closes. Weigh station apps will be incredibly helpful no matter which method you choose, as they'll tell you where the weigh stations are located as well as when they're open or closed.
Generally, drivers are only charged with an infraction if their vehicle is overweight by under 4,500 lbs. Drivers can be fined $250 for an overweight vehicle infraction. Vehicles that are more than 4,500 lbs. overweight can lead to an overweight vehicle misdemeanor charge.
What happens if you are overweight at a weigh station?
There are many weigh stations that force drivers to “shut down” their operation if their truck is overweight. Not only would you have to pay a fine, you would lose a lot of time and money waiting until another truck arrives to unload that excess weight.
Vehicles registered as trucks, including RVs, are subject to weigh station laws in Kansas. Passenger or specialty vehicles that weigh over 10,000 pounds must stop for weighing in Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nevada and Pennsylvania.
So what is a Weigh Station Bypass program? At its core, these bypass solutions allow eligible carriers and vehicles to skip mobile inspection sites across the US and Canada. They were designed to reward carriers that have good safety scores, while also keeping inspection sites running more efficiently.
By bypassing the weighing stations with the help of PrePass, drivers will be able to continue their journey at freeway speed without interrupting the traffic flow. The more vehicles that bypass a port of entry or weigh station prevents a buildup of trucks waiting to be weighed and inspected.
Transponder: The driver receives a screening result visually and audibly. A green light indicates a bypass and a red light indicates that the driver must pull into the weigh station. PrePass app: A “Pull-In” or “Bypass” decision displays to the driver.
Drivers License
The CVC requires a motorhome endorsem*nt on a noncommercial class B driver license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
There are 10 states that require you to get a special non-commercial driver's license. Here's a look at a few guidelines from a couple of states: California: California requires a non-commercial Class B license for RVs over 25,000 pounds and a Class A license for RVs over 10,000 pounds.
An Application for Registration of New Vehicle (REG 397), Application for Title or Registration (REG 343), or Statement of Facts (REG 256) form showing the length and width of the motorhome in inches. A REG 256A completed by the selling dealer or buyer.
5th wheel campers have an average weight of 12,700 pounds, empty and unloaded. Smaller models weigh as little as 5,000 pounds, while the largest 5th wheel camper trailers weigh up to 16,000 pounds. To allow plenty of space for camping gear, equipment, cargo and fluids, the average load capacity is 6,000 pounds.
Your RV must be weighed when it is fully loaded. This includes passengers, food, clothing, water, fuel, supplies, any towed vehicles behind a motorhome, and the tow vehicle for an RV trailer. It is important to weigh your RV at a location that can provide axle-end specific weights.
Can you pull a 5th wheel RV with a semi truck?
Yes. People turn Class 8 semi tractors into TV tow rigs all the time. They usually modify the chassis somewhat, especially the drive wheel arrangement and they need a different tow plate to accomodate a fifth wheel trailer.
Drivewyze® PreClear is the trucker app that saves you time, money and hassles, by letting you bypass weigh stations using your iOS device across North America. For a complete and updated list of supported states and sites, visit http://drivewyze.com/coverage-map.
What are the Penalties for Failing to Stop? The maximum penalty that a court can impose for failing to stop at a HVSS is a fine of $6850. If you require any further information on HVSS or any other legal matter call us on 1300 038 223 or send us an email.
In addition to fines, a scale violation can also result in the vehicle being placed out of service. This means that the vehicle is not allowed to be operated until the violation is corrected and the vehicle is re-inspected.
Any new trucks registered on or after Jan. 1, 2024, must be zero emissions. By 2035, the state of California will require all drayage trucks to be zero emissions. Drayage fleets typically use a truck for about 13 years before retiring them.
