Over one hundred truck drivers were ordered off the road during recent enforcement efforts in Oregon targeting those who bypass open weigh station facilities.
According to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), two commercial vehicle enforcement details took place in late April and early May 2025 along I-84 at Cascade Locks, Umatilla, and Farewell Bend Ports of Entry and La Grande and Emigrant Hill Weigh Stations.
During these two details, officials say that “more than 490 commercial truck drivers who bypassed an open weigh station were stopped and escorted back by Oregon State Police.”
After being escorted back to the weigh station, the officers conducted inspections to ensure compliance with licensing and hours-of-service regulations.
A total of 122 truck drivers were taken out-of-service after they were inspected during the I-84 enforcement effort.
“Of those drivers stopped, 25% were placed out-of-service, meaning they were temporarily prohibited from driving a commercial vehicle due to a violation of safety or regulatory rules. Their vehicles were also inspected for violations of state and federal regulations, and the drivers were required to correct any violations before proceeding,” ODOT said. “Inspectors discovered false logs and multiple electronic logging devices that had been tampered with and were producing fictional logs.”
See below for information from ODOT on who must report to an open weigh station.
Commercial vehicles and vehicle combinations exceeding 20,000 pounds:
- Must stop and weigh at an Open scale when a sign posted before the scale reads “All Trucks Over 20,000# GVW Next Right.”
All commercial vehicles and vehicles combinations with a GVW of 10,000 pounds or greater:
- Must stop and weigh at an Open scale without this posted sign.
The following are exempt from the requirements of reporting to an open scale when directed to do so by an Open sign. See ORS 818.400(2).
- An empty log truck and bunked pole trailer.
- A vehicle or combination of vehicles that is enroute to a terminal or other legitimate business that requires turning off the highway after passing the Open sign but before reaching the scale. Turning off one highway onto another highway is not exempt. A highway is defined as every public way, road, street, thoroughfare, and place intended for use by the general public. ORS 801.305.
- A vehicle or combination of vehicles directed to bypass by a weigh-in-motion system.
Exception: Vehicles transporting an oversize and/or heavy haul load must stop at Open scales even if they receive a green light on their transponder. - Fire equipment with red warning lights and/or siren operating.
- Recreational Vehicles operated solely for personal use.
- A bus, unless required by signage to enter scale.
- Military vehicles in convoy.
