Scale Ticket Basics for Truck Axle Weights

Contents

• What happens at the scale
• What the four numbers mean
• First-timer mistakes to avoid
• What the ticket is not
• Sources

A private truck scale — such as a CAT Scale location at a truck stop — prints a ticket that shows measured weight for each axle group. If you have never used one before, this page explains what to expect and why each number matters before you compare anything to a legal limit.

For the detailed line-by-line reading procedure, see How to Read a CAT Scale Ticket.

What happens at the scale

Pull onto the scale platform with the full combination — steer, drive, and trailer axles all on the platform at once if the scale length allows. The scale measures the weight on each axle group simultaneously. When you pull off, the ticket prints with separate readings for each group plus a gross total.

No government agency receives the result. No enforcement decision follows. The ticket is your record to keep.

What the four numbers mean

Steer axle: The front axle of the tractor. On a loaded combination, this typically reads 10,000–12,500 lb. The legal limit depends on the applicable axle rule and tire ratings — not on a common target number.

Drive axle group: The tandem under the rear of the tractor. Usually the heaviest reading on a loaded truck. The federal Interstate tandem limit is 34,000 lb; state limits may differ on non-Interstate roads.

Trailer axle group: The tandem at the rear of the trailer. Also compared to the 34,000 lb tandem limit. Sliding the trailer tandems changes this reading and the drive reading at the same time.

Gross weight: The sum of all three groups. Compared to the gross vehicle weight limit — 80,000 lb under the federal Interstate framework. Gross is the last check, not the only check.

First-timer mistakes to avoid

Treating gross weight as the whole answer. All four numbers need to be compared to the right legal category. A gross reading of 79,000 lb can still involve a drive tandem violation if that group reads above 34,000 lb.

Assuming the same limit applies everywhere. Federal Interstate limits are a baseline. Non-Interstate roads in some states have different limits. Check the state page for every state on the route, not just the loading state.

Skipping the re-weigh. If you adjust cargo, slide tandems, or move the fifth wheel after weighing, weigh again before departure. The second ticket is the practical proof that the adjustment moved weight in the right direction.

What the ticket is not

A scale ticket is a self-check record. It is not a permit, not route authority, and not a guarantee that the vehicle is legal at the next enforcement point. Use the applicable federal and state sources to confirm legal limits before moving.

Sources

This page uses FHWA federal size and weight material for the legal categories. It does not assert CAT Scale company policy.