GVWR’s and Scales

CaberTosser · #1 06-11-2018, 09:21 AM

I’ve been reading through the Alberta Highway Traffic Act from the Queens printer but have not yet found the information that I seek. Man is reading that ever mind-numbing, I wind up chasing butterflies and squirrels on other taskbars before long. I’m curious at what GVWR one needs to start pulling over at the highway scales?

Scott N · #2 06-11-2018, 09:28 AM

I'm not completely sure, but isn't it 4500 KG, when the National Safety Code rules kick in? I'm talking commercial use only vehicles.

CNP · #3 06-11-2018, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott N

I'm not completely sure, but isn't it 4500 KG, when the National Safety Code rules kick in? I'm talking commercial use only vehicles.

^^^^^^^^ correct

reddeerguy2015 · #4 06-11-2018, 09:50 AM

Correct - 4500KG Tare weight or heavier for commercial vehicles only.

So, basically a one ton dually with a few tools on board and a couple passengers will put you over.

DiabeticKripple · #5 06-11-2018, 09:52 AM

Isn’t it also registered weight? Lots of oilfield outfits register at 4495kg to avoid this

CaberTosser · #6 06-11-2018, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiabeticKripple

Isn’t it also registered weight? Lots of oilfield outfits register at 4495kg to avoid this

Curiously, my new dually van is rated at 5003kg GVWR, GCWR is 6917. They just had to add that extra 8 kilos.....

Scott N · #7 06-11-2018, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaberTosser

Curiously, my new dually van is rated at 5003kg GVWR, GCWR is 6917. They just had to add that extra 8 kilos.....

What's the actual tare weight of the van? The GVWR weight and the registered GVW are two different things. As far as I know, the "registered" GVW that appears on the registration and / or cab card is what the 4500 KGthreshold is based on.

CaberTosser · #8 06-11-2018, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott N

What's the actual tare weight of the van? The GVWR weight and the registered GVW are two different things. As far as I know, the "registered" GVW that appears on the registration and / or cab card is what the 4500 KGthreshold is based on.

I'll check my registration to see what the dealer registered it as (they undertook the registration), I'm noting the info off of my VIN plate.

Gobi · #9 06-11-2018, 10:21 AM

It works off registered weight. If you have a one ton dually that you've registered for less weight but it actually weighs more than that 4500kg, you'll get into trouble.

EZM · #10 06-11-2018, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaberTosser

Curiously, my new dually van is rated at 5003kg GVWR, GCWR is 6917. They just had to add that extra 8 kilos.....

You van is RATED up to 5003 kg GVWR which mean the weight of the van, fuel, people and stuff inside it.

You can register is under 4500kg and avoid the commercial designation (which I highly recommend as it comes with a host of DOT compliance headaches).

As DK mentioned - we did this for the bulk of our fleet in oil/gas with our 3/4 and 1 tons.

NCC · #11 06-11-2018, 12:19 PM

As stated above, its the registered weight that counts. We have identical trucks registered with different GVW's so we can avoid the scales and running log books on the trucks that are under 4500kgs. Make sure your actual weight is below the registered weight.

reddeerguy2015 · #12 06-11-2018, 02:15 PM

There seems to be some confusion here - some people are saying register below given weight, (in this case 4495) blah blah blah.

If your truck weighs more than 4500 kg then you CAN'T register it for a lower weight.

Tare weight is as the vehicle sits. So as how it would be setup on day to day driving, that's what you're Tare weight is going to be. So, setup your truck and take it to a self weigh scale. What's it weigh?? That's your Tare weight.

GCWR is the MAXIMUM the vehicle will weigh in any given configuration. I.E - Towing a trailer.

As soon as you hook up a trailer to a commercial truck that is registered for 3800 KG and drive past that weigh scale when the lights are flashing - you can bet your ass they will chase you down and give you a HOST of tickets. Ask me how I know.

reddeerguy2015 · #13 06-11-2018, 02:19 PM

Also, if you're truck is registered provincially - you don't have to run log books until 11,700KG.

If your truck is registered federally (it works interprovincially), you must start running logs at 4500KG.

blgoodbrand1 · #14 06-11-2018, 02:23 PM

Commercial vehicle with a Registered weight 4500 kg or more must pull into scales when open.
Did I mention how much I enjoy seeing the lights flashing....

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CaberTosser · #15 06-11-2018, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EZM

You van is RATED up to 5003 kg GVWR which mean the weight of the van, fuel, people and stuff inside it.

You can register is under 4500kg and avoid the commercial designation (which I highly recommend as it comes with a host of DOT compliance headaches).

As DK mentioned - we did this for the bulk of our fleet in oil/gas with our 3/4 and 1 tons.

I'm aware of the weight calculations, my tare is not yet established as I'm waiting on my shelving and tool drawer package to be delivered for outfitting the interior. I scaled it empty with myself in it and a full fuel tank so as to have an accurate baseline to gauge how much weight I'll be adding between the interior outfitting, tools and materials.

sweld · #16 06-11-2018, 03:22 PM

It’s pretty simple. If it’s registered commercial and weighs over 4500kg you are suppose to stop at the scales.

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blgoodbrand1 · #17 06-11-2018, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweld

It’s pretty simple. If it’s registered commercial and weighs over 4500kg you are suppose to stop at the scales.

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Not quite. Doesn’t matter what it weighs. 4500 kg registration is the trigger

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sweld · #18 06-11-2018, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blgoodbrand1

Not quite. Doesn’t matter what it weighs. 4500 kg registration is the trigger

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If u register it for under 4500 and it doesn’t weigh under 4500 u don’t have to stop. But if u register it for under 4500 and it weighs over 4500 you can take that chance.

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nast70 · #19 06-11-2018, 03:40 PM

Funny story,
We got our new shop truck all stickered up by yours truly in 2012.
First trip out of town, crew came back with 3 warnings about our weights stickers. I had our 1 ton dodge labeled at 8800kg. Whoops!

reddeerguy2015 · #20 06-11-2018, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blgoodbrand1

Not quite. Doesn’t matter what it weighs. 4500 kg registration is the trigger

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That's NOT true. If your truck weighs over 4500KG, and you're using it for commercial use, and YOU register it under 4500KG - when you get caught you'll just have one more ticket to pay.

sweld · #21 06-11-2018, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddeerguy2015

That's NOT true. If your truck weighs over 4500KG, and you're using it for commercial use, and YOU register it under 4500KG - when you get caught you'll just have one more ticket to pay.

Thank you.

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blgoodbrand1 · #22 06-11-2018, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddeerguy2015

That's NOT true. If your truck weighs over 4500KG, and you're using it for commercial use, and YOU register it under 4500KG - when you get caught you'll just have one more ticket to pay.

I didn’t suggest that.
The ops question was what is the trigger for pulling into the scales. It is registration on a commercial vehicle of 4500kg or more. That’s a simple thing.
Im not discussing actual weights, being over weight or under weight.

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sweld · #23 06-11-2018, 04:38 PM

Over 4500 not registered over 4500.

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reddeerguy2015 · #24 06-11-2018, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blgoodbrand1

I didn’t suggest that.
The ops question was what is the trigger for pulling into the scales. It is registration on a commercial vehicle of 4500kg or more. That’s a simple thing.
Im not discussing actual weights, being over weight or under weight.

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Well you're wrong. The correct answer is if the truck weighs more than 4500KG, and it's used for commercial use - it needs to pull into the weigh scale. Period.

Doesn't matter what its registered at. Doesn't matter what the door sticker says. If it's over 4500kg - pull in. Try having that argument with your local DOT officer and see how far it goes.

blgoodbrand1 · #25 06-11-2018, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddeerguy2015

Well you're wrong. The correct answer is if the truck weighs more than 4500KG, and it's used for commercial use - it needs to pull into the weigh scale. Period.

Doesn't matter what its registered at. Doesn't matter what the door sticker says. If it's over 4500kg - pull in. Try having that argument with your local DOT officer and see how far it goes.

Ok boss. You win the interweb today. I’ll get mama to whip you up a hero cookie later.
One final question for ya.
My truck is registered for 4501 kgs. Today it scales at 4499kg. Do I have to pull into the scales of open?

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reddeerguy2015 · #26 06-11-2018, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blgoodbrand1

Ok boss. You win the interweb today. I’ll get mama to whip you up a hero cookie later.
One final question for ya.
My truck is registered for 4501 kgs. Today it scales at 4499kg. Do I have to pull into the scales of open?

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The OP was looking for advice regarding weights, scales, and numbers. You provided incorrect information, I corrected you.... Sorry you're offended ??

And to answer your question - if your truck weighs in at 4499 today, NOPE, no weigh scale for you EVEN if it's registered for 4501KG.

Pretty simple right ??

blgoodbrand1 · #27 06-11-2018, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddeerguy2015

The OP was looking for advice regarding weights, scales, and numbers. You provided incorrect information, I corrected you.... Sorry you're offended ??

Not at all offended.
As to my question?

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reddeerguy2015 · #28 06-11-2018, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blgoodbrand1

Not at all offended.
As to my question?

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See above.

reddeerguy2015 · #29 06-11-2018, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blgoodbrand1

Not at all offended.
As to my question?

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The reason being, you could take a truck that has a Tare weight of 3800KG (with a registered weight of 10,000kg), and 9 out of 10 days you pass the scale with no trailer. Legal.

Now on the 10th day you hook up a trailer - with a combined weight of 9,900KG. Now you MUST pull into the scale.

See why registered weight doesn't matter ?? If you're over 4500KG, and your vehicle is registered for commercial use, you'd better pull in when those flashing lights are going off. if you're actual weight is under 4500KG, cruise on past.

Dewey Cox · #30 06-11-2018, 06:17 PM

The sign by my closest scale says “vehicles over 4500 kg report to scale when light flashing”
Simple.
I asked if I have to pull in every time if I drive by five times in a day.
They said yes.
Or they’ll chase me, and I won’t like how that goes.