Trucks are a vital part of the traffic in California because they carry food and other necessary supplies. However, if you are a truck driver and expect to be driving on I-5 or elsewhere in the state, be sure to check your load’s weight so you can avoid getting issued a weight limit ticket or you risk losing your commercial driver’s license (CDL).

This violation is almost unforgivable, as each truck has a panel that shows the manufacturer’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). That rating is applied after factoring the trucks brakes, powertrain, axles, and suspension. Furthermore, there are many weigh stations along major highways that a driver could use to weigh the truck and take preventive measures not to drive any further if overloaded. Your absolute best option other than not driving an overloaded truck is to contact Bigger & Harman for a consultation immediately after being ticketed for this offense.

Weight Limit Ticket Causes CDL Woes

Trucks are known to cause damage to the roadways and cost the state of California millions in repairs. Although many believe the state’s concern about weight limits is political and they are just out to save the taxpayer’s dollars, the real reason behind the weight limits is safety. Think about it, what is a few thousands or even millions in tickets compared to the hundreds of billions of dollars of products these trucks move?

Many truckers claim to know their truck’s limits, how fast it can stop on which inclines or hill downgrades, but do they really know how much the extra weight affects those same limits? When a trucker sees an obstacle ahead such as a traffic jam and he’s coming down a 5 or 6% grade, how long will it take him to stop that more than 80,000-pound loose cannon? The trucker should have known the truck was overloaded if he or she had stopped at any of those weigh stations. That’s why they are so strict on issuing weight limit tickets to truck drivers with overweight loads. That’s right, it is a criminal misdemeanor charge, you could do jail time, or get probation, $1000s in fines, depending on how many tickets you received (the record is around $40,000 as of this writing, though in Texas not California), and suspension or revocation of your CDL.

You are also required to tell your boss within 30 days of getting any ticket with your CDL. That means you could lose your job, and then you won’t be able to pay your bills or take care of your family. Plus, future employers will see the weight limit ticket and may not want to take the risk of hiring you at all. Insurance companies will put you in a “high-risk” category and raise your rates, so even if you have your own rig, you will still need insurance. There are no laws that say an insurance company must insure you.

Commercial Drivers on I-5 in Los Angeles, CA

Interstate 5 or I-5, is the main highway running north and south through the state of California, from Mexico to Canada. It is a vital roadway for trucks carrying all the fruits, nuts, and other crops from the Central Valley to other areas to be sold in all three countries’ market places. Without the trucks doing this job, many people in other areas would not have access to healthy fruits and vegetables. In the United States, these products account for nearly one-half of all America’s exports and one-third of all imports flowing through California’s ports.

An Attorney Can Help with Weight Limit Tickets

Truckers who have gotten a ticket for having an overweight load should speak with an attorney who specializes in traffic cases. Lawyers can go to court for you and may be able to help you get a smaller fine or fewer points on your license, which can help save your career. If your need help with a weight limit ticket in Los Angeles, CA or anywhere in SoCal. We also provide traffic ticket defense for other traffic violations! Call the law office of Bigger & Harman today, 661-349-9300. Or, send us an email: attorney@markbigger.com.