Does My Moving Truck Need to Stop at a Weigh Station

Alex is the founder of 9Kilo Moving, which he started to help people easily find and choose the right moving company to make their move as stress-free and seamless as possible. He has spent over 20 years working in the moving industry, so he knows every aspect of the business and uses his knowledge to write about the industry and give moving advice. More on about us page

Does My Moving Truck Need to Stop at a Weigh Station

Moving over the road is a big deal. Not only will it take you away from your loved ones, but it's also an opportunity for you to see the country in which you live! Whether you're moving across town or around the state, moving can be difficult and tiring, but it doesn't have to be if you know what you're doing. One of the main ways to make moving easier is by actually planning your trip and knowing what you need to do along the way!

If you're planning on taking a big truck, such as a rental or commercial moving truck, then there's something that needs to be discussed- weigh stations. Weigh stations are what they sound like- stations used to check the weight of vehicles on the road. They're generally located on major highway junctions, but some are just outside of cities. If you're not sure whether or not your moving truck will have to stop at a weigh station, then read below to figure out if you need to stop at a weigh station.

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Does my Moving Truck need to Stop at a Weigh Station?

It's not always necessary for you to stop at weigh stations because, technically, your truck is not a commercial goods truck to be weighed. However, it's a rule followed in some states where even non-commercial trucks need to stop at a weigh station. There is a limit for the truck's weight, the number of axles, and hours driven. If you're moving your goods in an oversize or overweight load, then you'll need to stop at a weigh station.

If you look on google maps (or whatever map service you use) for highways near you, it will give traffic bulletins, including whether or not there is a weigh station ahead. However, if it is a distance away from you and you're not able to stop at the next one or too far away from a weigh station, then don't worry about it! You will most likely get stopped by law enforcement officers who patrol the area.

Other Ways that Weight Stations can Affect you:

If you don't stop at a weigh station and stop by law enforcement officers, they will check your truck. If you're overweight, the driver and any passengers in the vehicle may be subject to fines if their combined weight exceeds what's allowed for that vehicle.
If there is no weight limit stated on your moving trucks' permits or if you don't have a permit to carry the goods, then the driver and anyone in the vehicle will be subject to fines.
Weight stations can also affect your gas mileage, so drivers must consider this when thinking about how much they'll need to pay for fuel. This is why if you're driving a commercial goods truck, it's important to know the weight limit on your vehicle and the hours that you're allowed to drive.

Who should Rent a Moving Truck?

You should rent a moving truck if you move to a different place for a living or a job. You should also rent a moving truck if you have lots of things so that you can fit everything in one truck.

Now, if you're planning on renting a moving truck, you need to be aware of the weight limit for your vehicle. However, most public moving trucks are generally 12 tons, holding up to 2000lbs. If you are traveling by car or something too heavy, make sure that it's within the truck's limits!

What States Stop Rental Trucks at Weigh Stations?

Usually, commercial trucks would need to stop at weigh stations. But it's not the same for non-commercial trucks, except for a few states. If your truck weighs more than 10,000lbs, they will stop you at the weigh station. Some states are very strict, so they'll stop you even if you have a permit.

Alaska - They stop trucks here. Suppose the weight of your truck is more than 10,000lbs. Then they will stop you at the weigh station.

Arizona - If your truck weighs more than 10,000lbs, they may stop you at the weigh station. But if it weighs less than 50,000lbs and it doesn't exceed the manufacturers' weight rating (GVW), then you will be okay.

However, they will stop you if there is any overweight moment on your goods.

Arkansas - Only select trucks with a license plate ending in odd numbers with five axles or more will be stopped at the weigh station. But they won't stop you if your truck weighs less than 10,000lbs.

California - California has the largest public moving trucks in the USA. However, if you're renting a U-haul truck, it won't be stopped at weigh stations.
Colorado - Trucks will be stopped if it's exceeding 26000lbs
Florida - Agricultural trucks need to be stopped at agricultural inspection stations.
Georgia - You won't be stopped here until your truck weighs more than 10,000lbs.
Hawaii - Truck will be stopped if it's exceeding 10,000lbs
Indiana - Truck will be stopped if it's exceeding 10,000lbs
Iowa - Truck will be stopped if it's exceeding 10,000lbs
Kansas - All trucks will be stopped with a truck registration.
Minnesota - Truck will be stopped if it's exceeding 10,000lbs
Montana - The truck will be stopped if it exceeds 8000lbs. or if the truck is carrying agricultural materials.
Nebraska - Truck will be stopped if it's exceeding 2000lbs.
New Jersey: Truck will be stopped if it's exceeding 10,001lbs.
New Mexico - Truck will be stopped if it's exceeding 26,001lbs.
North Dakota - The truck will be stopped if it exceeds 10,000lbs.
Ohio - Truck will be stopped if it's exceeding 10,000lbs.
Oregon - Truck will be stopped if it's exceeding 26,000lbs.
Pennsylvania - All trucks will be stopped regardless of the weight.
South Carolina - The truck doesn't have to stop unless the truck weight looks unlawful.
South Dakota - Truck will be stopped if it's exceeding 8000lbs.
Virginia - The truck will be stopped if it exceeds 7500lbs.
Washington - They stop trucks with a weight of more than 10,000lbs. Even if your truck only weighs 5,000lbs, they will stop you from checking your goods and ensuring there is no overweight moment on them. And they'll also stop you if you don't have any permits with you. However, if you're only carrying household items, you won't need to stop.
Wisconsin - Truck will be stopped if it's exceeding 10,000lbs
Wyoming - Trucks will be stopped at random for inspection.

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What happens if you don't STOP!

Some states will fine you if they stop your truck and realize that you have been carrying overweight goods. It's important to know the laws of each state, so it'll be easier for you to drive from place to place.

The driver can bypass a weigh legally only if a sign indicates that it's okay to pass. If you don't stop at the weigh station, roadside cameras will take a picture of your vehicle and send you a fine of $300.

Also See: How to Drive a Rental Moving Truck | Tips to Unload a Moving Truck | How to Move a Boat When Relocating

Conclusion

Moving trucks are helpful when moving from one place to another. However, some states will require a permit for you to cross their borders with a moving truck because they're very strict. If you have a U-Haul rental, it's pretty safe to drive through all the weigh stations without getting stopped because if your weight is within the range of what it can carry, you won't have any issues. However, if you do get stopped and the goods exceed the weight of a U-Haul rental truck, then they will charge extra according to the excess weight.

Good luck moving!

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FAQ's

Do I need a permit to drive a moving truck?

No, you don't need a moving permit as long as you have the U-Haul rental and your goods are within the weight limit of your truck.

Do I have to stop at a weigh station?

If you're driving with a Uhaul rental, then in most cases, it'll be okay to drive through the weigh station without having to stop. However, if they do suspect that you're carrying overweight goods on your truck, then they will stop you and ask for permits before letting you carry on.

What happens if I don't stop at a weigh station?

If you get stopped by the police or the highway patrol, your car will be taken to the nearest scales and weighed. If you're carrying overweight goods, then they'll find you according to how much you weigh.

What happens if the truck gets too heavy?

If your truck weighs more than what it can carry, they might ask you for extra permits or take away your permit to drive through the state. In most cases, you'll have to get everything off of your truck and only carry what it can hold.

Where should I check before moving?

It's best to know where the weigh stations are in the state that you're moving into so that you're prepared for any obstacles on your road trip.

Is there any way to know if my truck needs to stop?

Some weigh stations will make it obvious that they'll stop vehicles for inspection. When you see these signs, you're best off to slow down and check your speedometer because the police officer might come up after you very soon. Also, trucks or license plates that don't seem like they're from the state that you're in will most likely get stopped.

Is my car required to stop at a weigh station?

No, cars and motorcycles don't need to stop unless you see a sign indicating that every vehicle needs to pull over and stop.

Can big trucks bypass a weigh station?

Yes, only if there's a sign that says you're allowed to pass without stopping. If it doesn't say, then no trucks can go through the weigh station. Do not drive past any signs because there might be cops set up on the other side ready to stop you. Also, even if you do see a sign that says you're allowed to go through without stopping, there are still cameras on the other side that will take your picture and find you.