We run from Cincinnati to Green Bay on a regular basis. Indiana has a state scale on I 74 near the state
line. There are no truck stop scales between Cincinnati and that scale. The freight that we haul out of Cincinnati tends to be heavy. That leaves us with a problem.
My truck has a drive axle air gauge. That is a big help. My steer weigh is consistent. It depends on how much weight is on my drive axles and how much fuel I have in my tanks. If I can trust the shipper to have given an accurate weight – no problem. I know how my empty weight. Figuring out the gross isn't rocket science. Just add the weight of the load to the tare weight of my vehicle. I know. Every driver should know that. Trust me. Some won't.
We use multiple trailers. They aren't air ride. If you have figured out your gross. You know what
weight you have on your drive axles, and your steer axles. Calculating the weight on your trailer axles is just a matter of Gross weight – drive axle weight – steer axle weight. For instance you load weighs 42,000 pounds. Your empty weight is 34,000 pounds. Therefore your gross weight is 76,000 pounds. That is not rocker science. Know where 34,000 pounds is on your drive axle air gauge. Get close there and you won't have to scale that 42,000 pound load –
IF YOU TRUST THE SHIPPER. We load scrap paper and I don't necessarily trust the shipper.
You need a scale and the nearest truck stop scale is 20 miles in the wrong direction. Check you phone Apps. Google truck scales. Ask the shipper if they know of one in the area. Ask other drivers. Local drivers will often know of one. For years I have been scaling trucks on a small truck scale on Para Avenue in Cincinnati. I found it by asking the shipper. This scale will only take $5 bills. The good news is that is all that it takes.
Remember where scales when you see one. Write down where you saw it. That may come in handy. CAT scales are great, but they aren't cheap. At last note it cost $10.50 to use one. There are some scales that I use in Wisconsin. One of them is in Francis Creek. It costs $9 and they will throw in a cup of coffee.
Gravel yards will often let you use their scales for a fee. We load out of Harrison, OH neat Cincinnati. Once again if you are heading up I74 there are no truck stop scales between there and the Indiana state scales. There is a gravel yard near that shipper. They let you use their scale. It is set up for dump trucks. Just get your tractor weight and then your trailer weight. It takes a little more effort, but it sure beats finding out at the state scale.