Scale / Weigh Station Guide for Owner Operators
PrePass eligibility, what to do at a scale, violations, and a state-by-state guide.
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How do public truck scales work, and what do they cost?
A public truck scale weighs your truck axle by axle (steer, drive, trailer) so you can confirm you're within legal weight limits before a state weigh station does it for you. CAT Scale is the largest certified public scale network, located at truck stops nationwide. Its own FAQ lists $15.25 for a full-price weigh and $5.25 for a reweigh, if the reweigh is the same truck on the same scale within 24 hours, with the first ticket number recorded. If you come in overweight, a reweigh after shifting your load is cheaper than a second full weigh.
- Pull onto the scale slowly and stop with your steer axle, drive axles and trailer axle each fully on their own platform.
- Pay before or after weighing depending on the location's process, and get your printed ticket.
- Check each axle weight against your state's legal limits (commonly 20,000 lbs single axle, 34,000 lbs tandem, 80,000 lbs gross, unless your state's permit allows more).
- If you're over on one axle, you can often fix it by sliding your trailer tandems or shifting load position, then do a cheaper reweigh.
- Keep the ticket. If you're stopped at a state scale later, a recent certified weight ticket can support your case if you dispute a citation.
| Field | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Steer axle weight | Checked against your state's single-axle limit |
| Drive tandem weight | Checked against your state's tandem-axle limit |
| Trailer tandem weight | Checked against your state's tandem-axle limit |
| Gross vehicle weight | Checked against the 80,000 lb federal baseline, or your state's permitted limit |
Scale pricing changes periodically and can vary by location, so confirm the current price in the CAT Scale or Weigh My Truck app before you weigh if the exact amount matters to you. After a full-price weigh and two reweighs, the on-duty manager may stop further reweighs until you are legal.
Last reviewed October 2026. Sources: Weigh My Truck: Help and FAQ; CAT Scale: frequently asked questions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Scale / Weigh Station Guide
Where can I find a truck scale to weigh my load?
How much does it cost to weigh a truck at a public scale?
When should I weigh my truck?
What should I do if I can't find a scale and think I might be overweight?
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Go Further With Scale / Weigh Station Guide
Guides, services and reference pages that go with this tool.
- Weigh station rulesWho must stop, how states differ, and what skipping a scale can cost.
- Roadside inspections guideWeigh stations and inspection stations often overlap.
- Federal truck size and weight limitsThe federal limits scales check: 80,000 pounds, axle limits and the bridge formula.
- Hazmat basics for carriersHazmat loads have their own placard, paper and parking rules at stops and scales.
- Truck dispatch by stateEach state page covers its weigh-station rules.
- Truck height and length limits by stateScales check weight, and officers check size too. See the legal height and length by state.
- GVWR and GCWR, explainedScales read the actual weight. The rating is the most the truck is built to carry.
- Bobtail, explainedA tractor with no trailer is still a heavy truck. See how scale and license rules treat it.
- Cargo securement calculatorWeighed in and heavy? Check that the tiedowns on the load are strong enough too.
- Weigh station bypass, explainedA bypass service can let you skip an open scale. See how it works and who qualifies.
- Federal bridge formula, explainedA scale ticket can pass the axle limits and still fail the bridge formula. See how it works.
- Tandem axle, explainedSee how a tandem is defined and the federal weight limit on it.