Colorado and Wyoming Weigh Stations

Wyoming Weigh Stations
If the pre-pass orders you to stop, you must stop and following the signal indicators. If green side, go to the scale and get weighed. If red x, park on the backside, get your Wyoming Permit, Registration, Trailer Registration, Insurance, Bill of Lading, your CDL and your Company ID and take them inside to the DOT Inspector. He will ask you if you are hauling HAZMAT. Answer Yes/No (depending on your load). 

If your pre-pass does not indicate red or green, YOU MUST GO IN TO THE WEIGH STATION IF IT IS OPEN.

At the Laramie weigh station on US-287 just south of I-80, you will either get a green light, a yellow light (park and bring in registration) or a red light (stop as directed to weigh each axle, then bring in permits and registration).


Colorado
If the pre-pass orders you to go in to be weighed, you must pull into the weigh station and follow the sign indicators. Usually they will have you weigh each axle and then allow you to proceed. Occasionally they will ask you to park and come inside. When you do, bring your CDL, DOT Medical Card, Bill of Lading, Registration AND insurance. You will need to bring in any applicable permits or HAZMAT paperwork as well. 

If your pre-pass does not indicate red or green, YOU MUST GO IN TO THE WEIGH STATION IF IT IS OPEN.


DOT INSPECTIONS
At times, you might hit a weigh station or a random checkpoint and get popped for a DOT inspection of the truck and trailer. If you are in the driver’s seat, YOU are responsible for the condition of that truck and trailer. Not me, not the Company. ONLY YOU! Your pre-trip inspection is the most important part of your day. Miss something and it can and will cost you money.

When you get close to a weigh station, it’s best to clear your dash off, turn off the radio, roll down your window (the one nearest to the scale house), exit at the speed that the yellow and black sign shows, keep both hands on the wheel. Do not look at the scale house, keep your eyes straight ahead, but make sure you check your mirrors. Be in low or 2nd gear, and creeping along at 2-3 mph. They’re looking for a reason to pull you in for an inspection, don’t give them one. Don’t be fumbling around for things, keep good posture, eyes looking forward, both hands on the wheel and follow the signs and indicators. If they speak to you via the loudspeaker system, then look at the scale house.

Most DOT Inspectors are looking for working lights, working brakes and ABS sensors, working turn signals, wipers, wiper fluid functioning, 4 ways, license plate lights, mirrors working and not broken, air horn functioning, no leaks under the truck, tire tread within required limits on the truck and trailer. You also need to have your CDL card, DOT Medical Card and long form, truck registration, permits, insurance, your bill of lading and your trailer registration handy when he asks for it. Know where they are before you start driving so they are quickly accessible. If you spend a lot of time looking for them, he will just get impatient and write you a violation for not having it. Also, do NOT cop an attitude with them or have a smart mouth. When you do that, they go looking for reasons to write you a citation. Citations/tickets and violations affect your CSA (Compliance, Safety and Accountability) Scores. Too high of a CSA Score can and will get you shut down and/or get you fired.

Level III - Driver/Credential Inspection – An examination that includes those items specified under the North American Standard Level III Driver/Credential


Inspection Procedure. As a minimum, Level III inspections must include, where required and/or applicable, examination of the driver’s license; medical examiner’s certificate and Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) Certificate; driver’s record of duty status; hours of service; seat belt; vehicle inspection report(s); and HM/DG requirements. Those items not indicated in the North American Standard Level III Driver/Credential Inspection Procedure shall not be included on a Level III inspection.


Level II - Walk-Around Driver/Vehicle Inspection– Includes the aspects of the Level III DOT Inspection. An examination that includes each of the items specified under the North American Standard Level II Walk-Around Driver/Vehicle Inspection Procedure. As a minimum, Level II inspections must include examination of: driver’s license; medical examiner’s certificate and Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) Certificate (if applicable); alcohol and drugs; driver’s record of duty status as required; hours of service; seat belt; vehicle inspection report(s) (if applicable); brake systems; coupling devices; exhaust systems; frames; fuel systems; lighting devices (headlamps, tail lamps, stop lamps, turn signals and lamps/flags on projecting loads); securement of cargo; steering mechanisms; suspensions; tires; van and open-top trailer bodies; wheels, rims and hubs; windshield wipers; emergency exits and/or electrical cables and systems in engine and battery compartments (buses), and HM/DG requirements as applicable. HM/DG required inspection items will be inspected by certified HM/DG inspectors. It is contemplated that the walk-around driver/vehicle inspection will include only those items, which can be inspected without physically getting under the vehicle.


Level I - North American Standard Inspection – An inspection that includes examination of driver’s license; medical examiner’s certificate and Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) Certificate (if applicable); alcohol and drugs; driver’s record of duty status as required; hours of service; seat belt; vehicle inspection report(s) (if applicable); brake systems; coupling devices; exhaust systems; frames; fuel systems; lighting devices (headlamps, tail lamps, stop lamps, turn signals and lamps/flags on projecting loads); securement of cargo; steering mechanisms; suspensions; tires; van and open-top trailer bodies; wheels, rims and hubs; windshield wipers; emergency exits and/or electrical cables and systems in engine and battery compartments (buses), and HM/DG requirements as applicable. HM/DG required inspection items will be inspected by certified HM/DG inspectors.


Permits
Many states require permits to do certain things. Know where your permit book is; verify that all your permits are current and up to date (if they aren’t notify your Dispatcher or Safety Department). Oregon and Wyoming are particular sticklers. Be prepared to present permits in case DOT or Law Enforcement stops you.


Tolls
Your company may or may not give you toll passes. Black pre-pass (most national toll booths and weigh stations), Kansas Turnpike and Oklahoma Turnpike passes. The black one is used primarily for weigh stations, if it beeps rapidly and the light turns red, you must enter the weigh station. If it beeps slowly and the light is green, you may bypass the weigh station.