Real Truckers Don’t Use CAT Scales — We Eyeball It & Keep It Pushin’

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

The fine art of guesstimating 80,000 pounds… and doing it right.

There’s a phrase that gets passed around truck stops, break rooms, and back-of-the-lot conversations more than free fuel cards:

“Real truckers don’t use CAT scales. We eyeball it and keep it pushin’.”

Now, depending on who you ask, that’s either the most reckless thing you’ve ever heard... or the purest form of trucking wisdom passed down from the chrome gods of the open road.

Let’s unpack what this really means — and why there’s more truth (and attitude) to it than you might think.

Where It All Comes From: Experience, Baby

Before ELDs, before weigh station apps, and way before everyone had a dashcam and Bluetooth headset, trucking was an artform. And one of the most respected skills? Knowing your weight by feel.

Here’s how the old-school truckers did it — and many still do:

Feel the ride: You could tell if the load was heavy just by how your rig squatted after the trailer was hooked.

Check the air pressure: Not with a gauge, but with your eyes and instincts. If that airbag looked a little too puffed or saggy? Time to slide.

Slide the tandems, not the panic button: They’d adjust weight distribution just right without ever pulling onto a scale.

They weren’t reckless. They were in tune with their trucks. Like racecar drivers feel the road or chefs taste their sauce — seasoned truckers knew their rig like the back of their calloused hand.

Why CAT Scales Became a Thing: Rules, Receipts, and Revenue

Let’s be real. CAT scales aren’t evil — they’ve saved many drivers from overweight tickets that could sink your paycheck like a dropped trailer.

But they’re also:

A delay: You’re rolling good, and now you gotta pull into a truck stop, wait in line, and throw $13+ just to get a piece of paper.

A crutch: For some new drivers, they become a substitute for learning how to actually read a truck’s balance and suspension.

Are they useful? Of course.
Are they mandatory for real drivers? Not if you know your truck and load like a pro.

When Eyeballing Is Just Good Trucking

We’re not saying never scale. We’re saying don’t underestimate the power of experience and intuition. Here’s when eyeballing works:

Same customer, same product: You haul paper rolls out of the same warehouse twice a week. You already know what axle weight to expect.

Light loads: If the load feels like a feather, you don’t need a scale — you need sunglasses and a good playlist.

Spread axles and flatbeds: Many flatbedders don’t scale unless hauling something massive. You learn to walk the load and feel the center of gravity.

But Let’s Keep It 100: Not Everyone’s Built Like That

Here’s where the “real truckers don’t scale” line gets sketchy:

Brand new drivers: You just got your CDL last month? Yeah, go scale it.

Hauling hazmat or high-dollar freight: DOT don’t care if you "felt the weight" — they want receipts.

Running company trucks: You’re not paying the ticket, but your safety score is taking the hit.

So yeah… there’s a time and a place. Just don’t front like eyeballing means being lazy. Real truckers do it right because they’ve done it wrong enough times to learn better.

Bottom Line: CAT Scales Are a Tool, Not a Requirement

The best drivers out here know when to use tools — and when to trust their gut. CAT scales are helpful, but they don’t make you a better driver. Knowing your equipment, your load, and how to stay legal without needing a printout?

Now that’s trucking.

So next time you see a driver skip the scale and hit the hammer lane without blinking — don’t assume they’re risking it all. They might just be one of the few left who can truly eyeball it and keep it pushin’. 💪

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Because whether you scale your truck or your income — real truckers always come prepared.