Do Pickup Trucks Need To Stop At Weigh Stations? What You Need To Know

Weigh stations, with their unique functionality and tech, play a crucial role in keeping roads and truck drivers safe. By law, commercial truck drivers are required to go through these stations and have their vehicles weighed to ensure they meet mandated weight limits. This is common knowledge for those who driver semi-trucks and similarly large vehicles, but do such regulations apply for pickup trucks? 

As a rule of thumb, pickup trucks are not required to pull into weigh stations. Trucks that don't surpass 10,000 pounds in their weight or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) are typically exempt from this regulation. Most light to medium-duty pickup trucks don't exceed 7,000 pounds and thus don't fit within these parameters, giving them a pass to drive by weigh stations. Additionally, most laws regarding weigh stations only require commercial vehicles to be weighed, meaning most privately-owned pickup trucks, including trucks that have trailer attachments, don't have anything to worry about in this regard. 

Of course, this is only a general rule and the reality may be more nuanced than you think. Depending on where you're driving through and the circumstances, your pickup may be required to go through a weigh station. Avoiding these stations can lead to serious legal troubles and potential fines, so it pays to know what rules apply in your area. 

For the most part, pickup trucks aren't required to stop at weigh stations, especially if it's a privately-owned vehicle. But this mindset isn't adopted everywhere. Whereas a select few states stand more firm on what kind of trucks must stop, others take a more situational approach to proceedings. 

As of this writing, the only states that require any and all commercial vehicles to stop for inspection regardless of size are California and Connecticut. Meanwhile, states such as Virginia and South Dakota have lower-than-usual Gross Vehicle Weight Rating thresholds of 7,500 and 8,000 pounds respectively, making it crucial to know the specs of your pickup. However, many states, while not making it mandatory to have your pickup be weighed, will permit law enforcement to direct any vehicle to a weigh station that they have reason to believe surpasses weight capacity. Areas that practice this include Mississippi, Kansas, Delaware, Iowa, and Florida among others. 

Keeping on top of your local regulations, as well as any places you expect to drive through in your pickup, will help you stay prepared in the instance you pass a weight station. Be sure to map out your route ahead of time to see if there are any mandated stops. If you drive a commercial vehicle and know you will run by a weigh station, programs such as Drivewyze provide extensive data regarding your vehicle to the station staff and allow you to legally skip a weigh station visit.