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We are moving a friend from Prescott, AZ to Palm Coast, FL and we're 3,600lbs over the 26,000lb GVWR on our Penske rental. I volunteered to drive the truck across the country for him months ago, but now thats it's loaded... overloaded actually, I'm having some concerns. If we get caught what kind of fines, license suspension can I expect. I wasn't planning on stopping at any weigh stations but now I'm wondering if that'll raise more red flags.
If you are talking about a regular 26' vehicle used to move you are not legally required to pull into a weigh station. If you are talking about a Tractor Trailer as in a regular sized semi truck that you need a CDL to drive that is a different story entirely. To be safe though perhaps the rental of a second truck would be wise since cargo does shift during travel. Your choice what to do though.
Depends on a state. Some if not most states DO require any trucks (rentals or not, semi or straight) over 8,000 lbs to enter a weigh station. If you are not "planning" on stopping at a weigh station, you might be escorted there. If you want to run, technically you can if you do everything possible to bypass weigh stations, which is much easier to do in a 26,000 lbs truck. Tractor trailer on a country road automatically raises suspicion about bypassing scales and some localities (in the proximity of weigh stations) make pretty penny on catching those big rigs. However I don't think many cops would bother with a 26,000 lbs truck on a county road.
Whatever you do, do NOT enter a weigh station overweight. Not only you'll be fined (per pound, 25c per pound +/-) they will not let you to leave a weigh station overweight and you'll have to rent another truck to take 3,000lbs off the first rental truck.
Last edited by RememberMee; 08-15-2012 at 07:06 AM..
Location: ๏̯͡๏﴿ Gwinnett-That's a Civil Matter-County
2,118 posts, read 6,372,905 times
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Hey, just ALL TRUCKS and TRAILERS, rented or otherwise have to stop in Florida at one of the agricultural inspection stations when you come into the state. There aren't any scales there as it's an agricultural inspection station but you are required to stop. Don't panic. You can get big fines if you don't stop and they do routinely pull moving vans over for that.
I'd follow Mr. Rational's advice personally.
We are moving a friend from Prescott, AZ to Palm Coast, FL and we're 3,600lbs over the 26,000lb GVWR on our Penske rental. I volunteered to drive the truck across the country for him months ago, but now thats it's loaded... overloaded actually, I'm having some concerns. If we get caught what kind of fines, license suspension can I expect. I wasn't planning on stopping at any weigh stations but now I'm wondering if that'll raise more red flags.
I suppose it's pointless to wonder, but how do you go almost 2 tons overweight in a moving truck?
However it happened, if I was in this situation, there's no way I'd drive that truck cross country.
I suppose it's pointless to wonder, but how do you go almost 2 tons overweight in a moving truck?
However it happened, if I was in this situation, there's no way I'd drive that truck cross country.
The truck was jam pack with everything from his 2 bedroom house and his business. There were a lot of very heavy shop tools; cherry picker, parts washer, air compressor, 2 motorcycles lifts, 13 motorcycle engines, 50-ish bins full of motorcycle parts, motorcycles frames, etc... all within the first 8 feet of the truck. Slowly but steadily we made it without issue, but the truck struggled on the slightest grade. Didn't stop for a single weigh station or checkpoint.
As a moving industry professional and former truck tractor-trailer driver who's helped scores of property owners, police, fire, and emergency crews clean rental truck and private vehicle accidents on the nations highways caused by inexperienced and/or irresponsible drivers operating overloaded equipment, I wouldn't recommend anyone try this.
First, state and federal motor vehicle and law enforcement inspectors can pull truck operators you over at any time if they suspect that a truck is operating suspiciously or unsafely. This can include not having enough air pressure in your tires. Some states now require that all rental vehicles enter ports-of-entry or weigh stations.
Second, if the operator is found to have 'overloaded' the vehicle past it's safe operating capacity, they can impound the vehicle or force the driver to unload some of the contents where they're stopped before proceeding.
Third, if a fine or penalty is involved for operating unsafely or illegally, it must be paid before the vehicle is released from impound and the driver can proceed.
Fourth, if an accident occurs because it was determined that the vehicle was being operated illegally or unsafely, it is considered negligence and the operator is responsible for all damages that must be paid under the law. This becomes particularly expensive when fatalities and personal property damage are involved and insurance companies don't pay.
The truck was jam pack with everything from his 2 bedroom house and his business. There were a lot of very heavy shop tools; cherry picker, parts washer, air compressor, 2 motorcycles lifts, 13 motorcycle engines, 50-ish bins full of motorcycle parts, motorcycles frames, etc... all within the first 8 feet of the truck. Slowly but steadily we made it without issue, but the truck struggled on the slightest grade. Didn't stop for a single weigh station or checkpoint.
Hahaha - that is amazing! And I guess it's okay to laugh about it, knowing you got there in one piece.
It's too bad the guy didn't have a several diesel tractor engine blocks to throw in there - just to give the truck a little more weight.
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ALL TRUCKS and TRAILERS, rented or otherwise have to stop in Florida at one of the agricultural inspection stations when you come into the state. There aren't any scales there as it's an agricultural inspection station but you are required to stop. Don't panic. You can get big fines if you don't stop and they do routinely pull moving vans over for that. 
