Weigh stations are one of the many stops you’ll visit during your career on the road. We truck drivers understand their importance, but family and friends may ask us from time to time how these weigh stations factor into our careers. Bay & Bay Transportation encourages you to know the who, what, where, when, and whys of weigh stations in relation to your Atlanta, GA, driving jobs at Bay & Bay.
Weigh stations today exist to enforce safety and tax regulations not just for commercial drivers, but also for all commuters who share the roads. They are run by each state’s DOT or DMV and are enforced by state police. In Georgia, weigh stations are run by the Georgia DOT. Weigh station personnel perform safety equipment inspections, enforce Hours of Service Regulations, monitor weight restrictions, check permits, and enforce fuel tax laws, just to name a few of their important duties. DOT personnel and signage will guide you through each weigh station visit.
The Georgia Department of Public Safety states that vehicles or vehicle/trailer combinations weighing 10,001 pounds gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or actual gross weight or more are required to stop at all open weigh stations encountered in the state of Georgia. Weigh station personnel check for four total weights: the steer axle weight at the front truck tires, the drive axle weight at the back truck tires, the trailer axle weight at the back trailer tires, and the gross vehicle weight of the entire vehicle or combination. Though your driving job will take you to locations where the weight limits vary, the general gross vehicle weight limit to stay under is 80,000 pounds.
There are twelve weigh stations located throughout the state of Georgia:
- Bremen
- Catoosa Springs
- Chatsworth
- Darien
- Forsyth
- Harlem
- Hogansville
- Lavonia
- Lithia Springs
- Pembroke
- Port Wentworth
- Valdosta
To find weigh stations near your driving job’s route, check this handy location tool provided by Allstays.
The rule surrounding weigh stations may vary from state to state. The AAA Digest of Motor Laws provides a handy breakdown of weigh station regulations by state, available here. Check with your state’s DOT for full, up-to-date regulations.
Bay & Bay Transportation puts a strong emphasis on safety for all of our drivers, no matter where their driving jobs take them in Atlanta, GA, and throughout the United States. If you are interested in driving for Bay & Bay Transportation, give us a call at (888) 801-3026.