Chowchilla CA Truck Weigh Station??

[supercub]

Have a couple of questions regarding the weigh station just north of Chowchlla CA in the northbound lanes. Prior to reach the turnout fo the weigh station, there's some, what I assume to be, sensors suspended from medal arms above the traffic.......I'm curious, anyone know what these are for?
Also, the digital sign said, ALL trucks must exit......I was surprised when I saw, I believe it was a Fed Ex truck go right on by. Any idea why he didn't stop? And yes, it was a big 18 wheeler, might have been pulling doubles, I don't remember for sure. Thanks
Brian

[msmith1199]

J-Rooster wrote:
Super Cub, your getting the right info so far! But I'll take this a little further,sometimes they are also used for tracking if a vehicle trips a transponder at one weigh station and trips the transponder at a second weigh station there is a speed formula they use to see if you were speeding. If the weigh station is open your called in, if not you receive your citation in the mail. Also in Washington State there is two metal arms one is for the transponder and the other is a camera. Also one time I was returning to Seattle, WA. from Bellingham, WA. in my semi and I took a back road off I-5 to Algier, WA. (there was this store that sells great fried chicken) after stopping for my snack I continued down this road for about 10 miles and I had the Washington State Patrol waiting for me. I tripped some type of alarm that they had set up at 11' in height (laser beam) and it turned on a camera at the weigh station on I-5 and the WSP assumed that I was running the I-5 scales! You should have seen there faces when they had me open the back door of the trailer and nothing was in the there! But they did go thru all my papers, health card etc. trying to find something wrong! Big Brother is watching!

The speed timing wouldn't be happening in California. It's not legal to time vehicles between points for purpose of speed enforcement here.

[two-niner]

Eleven Bravo 11B: There has been some significant changes to the agent orange program run by the VA. You may want to check it out.

Kerry

[11B]

Sure hope they didn't confiscate that great fried chicken or leave finger prints all over it.

[J-Rooster]

Super Cub, your getting the right info so far! But I'll take this a little further,sometimes they are also used for tracking if a vehicle trips a transponder at one weigh station and trips the transponder at a second weigh station there is a speed formula they use to see if you were speeding. If the weigh station is open your called in, if not you receive your citation in the mail. Also in Washington State there is two metal arms one is for the transponder and the other is a camera. Also one time I was returning to Seattle, WA. from Bellingham, WA. in my semi and I took a back road off I-5 to Algier, WA. (there was this store that sells great fried chicken) after stopping for my snack I continued down this road for about 10 miles and I had the Washington State Patrol waiting for me. I tripped some type of alarm that they had set up at 11' in height (laser beam) and it turned on a camera at the weigh station on I-5 and the WSP assumed that I was running the I-5 scales! You should have seen there faces when they had me open the back door of the trailer and nothing was in the there! But they did go thru all my papers, health card etc. trying to find something wrong! Big Brother is watching!

[Executive45]

That's also why you'll see signs posted that say "Trucks right lane only next blank miles, no passing"....WIM, more prevalent every day. Saves everyone time and $$....Dennis

[mdamerell]

Also the computer never sleeps so even when the scale is closed, the part on the main road is still open weighting trucks. Allows the state to monitor you at all times. There are often two metal plates in the road that are off set to sense and measure the weight. They are about a foot wide by 5' long so together they reach across the lane. It is nice to get the green light and "keep on trucking".

[K_Charles]

Do a search on "prepass"

[path1]

Weigh-in-motion (WIM) - A method that is gaining momentum, WIM uses a series of embedded sensors to calculate the weight per axle as a truck drives over the sensor pad. Unlike the other two methods, there is no need for the truck to come to a complete stop while on the scales. In fact, some WIM systems are installed in highways so that all traffic is monitored at speed.

[supercub]

Thanks for the info,

[IAMICHABOD]

It varies, most companies certify their safety and weight records and some of the scales have a WIM (weight in motion) near the transponders as the truck passes over them a signal is sent to the scale house and if it is legal the box on the dash of the truck will give a green light, if not a red light will come on and they will have to stop.

They also have cameras so the scalemaster can see the truck, so they will know which truck passes by the scale and if it is the one that has the right to do so.

[supercub]

Ok, that's interesting, but how do they know if they're not over loaded?

[IAMICHABOD]

The sensors above the roadway are for reading a transponder in the truck they are called a greenlight transponder. They allow the trucks to bypass the scales if they are registered with the state.There are some companies that have all their trucks in this program.

This a money saving program for them, it takes a lot of time and energy to start and stop a truck. Operating a heavy truck is estimated to cost $1.96 per minute and stopping at a weigh station can take five minutes, also the starting and stopping this way puts more pollution in the air, by doing this they save money and help air quality.