Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Portable Scales Detail plays a crucial role in maintaining road safety and enforcing weight regulations for commercial vehicles. The team, comprising 12 two-person units, collaborates with the Illinois State Police (ISP) to monitor truck weights across northern, central, and western Illinois.

Dave Vatland and Aaron Terando are part of this detail. On a particular day in August 2023, their plans to assist ISP’s Troop 4 in Peoria County were disrupted by a crash on Interstate 74. They opted to work with Troop 2 in Henry and La Salle counties instead. Together with Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer Steve Icenogle, they set up an enforcement stop in Atkinson.

Vatland explains the importance of their work: “We run into all kinds of trucks that should not be on the road, so it’s a safety issue.” He emphasizes that portable scales help identify overweight trucks that could damage roads.

The use of portable scales dates back to 1922 when state police first enforced weight laws using surplus World War I motorcycles. Today, IDOT's portable scale teams are based in Springfield and work statewide except on the Illinois Tollway.

Weight Enforcement Engineer Keith Donovan clarifies that portable scales differ from weigh stations or weigh-in-motion systems. While IDOT builds and maintains these facilities, operations are handled by the state police.

Donovan highlights the utility of weigh-in-motion systems: “We use weigh-in-motion as a screening tool for the fixed scales and for all sorts of data collection.”

Vatland notes a common misconception among truck drivers who think they issue fines. Instead, they assist troopers by checking paperwork and providing observations.

Beyond enforcement, Vatland stresses safety: “Studies have shown that one 80,000-pound truck can do as much damage to the roads as 5,000 to 7,000 passenger vehicles.”

The impact of IDOT's efforts is evident through increased compliance over recent years. From 2018 to 2022, they averaged weighing thousands of trucks annually on both portable and semi-portable scales, resulting in significant citations and fines.

Vatland reflects on his work: “Some days are better than others, but it gives you a feeling of satisfaction... It feels good when we run into that because our families are on the same roads that we’re working on.”