OSOW Resources

Overview

Oversize and overweight loads present special challenges and the information below is meant to help you stay safe, stay informed, and stay legal! Below you will find best practices for hauling oversize/overweight loads and for travelling with a pilot car, as well as links to useful websites and additional information. Please let us know if we can provide you with any additional information.

Moving OSOW Loads - Best Practices

The following are a list of best practices to be followed on every oversize and overweight load that you move.

1) OS - Measure accurately. Your measurement needs to include the largest over-dimension in each direction.

  • Never let your desire to avoid curfews and restrictions influence the measurement that you report. If uncertain, err on the side of caution and report the greatest measured dimensions.

2) OW - On non-divisible overweight loads, fully fuel before you scale. A scale ticket for a truck that isn't fully fueled will result in needing to fill up and re-scale, so do it on the front end.

    • On legal, divisible loads, scale before you fuel. We can't permit divisible loads, so knowing how much fuel you can put on while staying legal is extremely important.

3) OW - Move your fifth-wheel to shift weight from your steer onto your drives or visa-versa. Each notch shifts approximately 250 pounds forward or backwards

4) OSOW - Read your permits. You know your truck, trailer, and load better than the person who is ordering your permits for you. If you receive a permit, and see a mistake, please let us know right away so that we don't replicate that mistake across multiple permits.

5) OSOW - Carry all required accompaniments and be conscious of which states allow permits to be presented electronically and which require possession of a paper permit.

  • State permit resource binders are available at the terminal and should be carried in each truck. However, you need to remember that the binders will not remain up to date on their own, and you will need to check what you have in your binder against what your permits require.

6) OSOW - Be aware of of holiday closures and plan accordingly.

7) OSOW - Check road conditions, especially during the winter, and plan accordingly.

Working with a Pilot Car - Best Practices

The following are a list of best practices to be followed when you require accompaniment by a pilot car.

1) Make sure your CB is working.

  • You will be communicating with your pilot over the CB, so it's important that you have one and that it is working correctly. If you don't have a CB, contact Tim.

2) Set your meeting location and time with your pilot a day prior whenever possible.

3) Make a plan with the pilot that includes the following:

  • Review of your route and trip plan, including planned fuel stops.
  • Determine what radio channel you are going to use.
  • Clarify your expectations regarding call-outs. If you want to be notified whenever an 18-wheeler is heading your way, make that clear to your pilot.

Additional Information

States that allow no Sunday OSOW travel (11/19):

  • AL, MD, NY, SC, VA

States that allow no Weekend OSOW travel (11/19):

  • NH, RI, CT (unless specially requested), and VT (if over 10' 6" W)

States that require OSOW banner for OW only loads (11/19):

  • CA, CT, GA, IN, KS (daytime only)

Using the Weigh My Truck App

Getting Started

Register with Weigh My Truck

Begin setting up an account here. Provide the email address you want your electronic CAT Scale tickets to go to, enter your truck identification and select a payment method in order to save time every time you weigh. Current accepted payment methods are: PayPal, Credit Card, EFS, and Comdata.

Download the App

Download the app through Google Play and the Apple App Store and login on your smartphone. You will only have to login one time to sync the app to your account.

Drive onto a CAT Scale

Open the app on your smartphone and you'll be asked to confirm the CAT Scale location. If your device doesn't allow location services or there are multiple CAT Scales at your location you will be asked to enter the CAT Scale number found on the intercom sign.

Confirm your truck identification

Confirm the stored truck identification displayed on your smartphone.

Watch your mobile device

Receive your guaranteed weight on screen after the weighmaster has checked to make sure that your truck is correctly positioned on the platforms. A PDF copy of your CAT Scale weigh ticket will be emailed to you and anyone else you have specified in your account. A hard copy CAT Scale ticket is available inside.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I use the CAT Scale Weigh My Truck app?

There are several advantages to using Weigh My Truck but the most important reason may be the time savings. We are hearing from several of our customers that they are seeing a time savings of 20 minutes per weigh which gets you back on the road and making money that much quicker.

Where can I get Weigh My Truck?

Weigh My Truck is available for smartphones through Google Play and the Apple App Store.

How much does Weigh My Truck cost?

The Weigh My Truck app is free.

Is there a fee for using Weigh My Truck?

There are currently no additional charges from CAT Scale for using Weigh My Truck. Pricing for U.S. Locations is $12.00 for a first weigh and $2.50 for a reweigh.

What is a qualifying Reweigh?

A weigh qualifies as a reweigh when it is the same truck and trailer within 24 hours at the same CAT Scale location. The app will automatically recognize if you are eligible for a reweigh and give you that option on your device.

Do I have to register to use Weigh My Truck?

Yes, registration is fast and free.

Can I get a printed CAT Scale ticket?

Yes, two copies of your ticket will be held at the fuel desk for one hour after weighing.

Can I get an electronic CAT Scale ticket?

Yes, an electronic copy of your ticket will be emailed to your chosen Email address.

Is my weight still guaranteed using Weigh My Truck?

Yes, your weights are guaranteed to be accurate.

Is my weight certified using Weigh My Truck?

Yes, but electronic copies of weigh tickets are not recognized as certification of weight so make sure to pick up the printed ticket at the fuel desk. (Note: the Weigh My Truck app cannot be used to obtain a certified weight in California).

Do I need to use a certain phone setting for Weigh My Truck?

We recommend that you enable your GPS/Location (so it can locate the scale you are at). We also suggest that you turn Wi-Fi off when using the app. When Wi-Fi is on, it slows down the communication speed.

Can I send a ticket to multiple email addresses?

Yes, after you create an account, you can go to your email list and add up to five additional email recipients.

Can I do a Split Weigh with the App?

Not yet! Currently, the App does not support split axle weighing.

How can I update my payment method for the App?

Login to your Weigh My Truck account and update or change your payment method.