An Old Truck Stop Scale

 

On one of our trips between Madison and Milwaukee last week we stopped at the Lake Oasis Truck Stop.  While walking around the parking lot Vince noticed an old tuck stop scale.  We went over to look at it and take these pictures.

 

Vince explained that he use to have to have quarters for the scale when he first started out twenty-six years ago.  He would pull up to the scale, put in the ticket which he got out of the box and then inserted his quarter.  He then had to get back in the truck move the truck up so the next axle was on the scale, get out, move the ticket along then put in his quarters, then move up again. After completing the process the ticket would spit out.

 

The mail box held the tickets and this one even took dollars.  The tickets were inserted in the box on the lower left.

Today to scale a load we pull up completely on the scale.  Vince then pushes an intercom that is connected to inside the truck fuel desk.  The attendant asks for the company name, Vince’s truck number and whether it is his first time going over the scale.  The attendant then tells Vince to proceed and come inside to get his ticket.

 

The instructions and a little tid bit of info for you.
The numbers after the LISC at the bottom reflect the year it was
 last inspected (1987) and scale number.

I like it when on our trips we come upon some of the old equipment that used to be the way things were done in trucking.  It gives me a chance to see how things were for Vince when he started out.  It also gives me an idea of how hard some things must have been and how far things have come.   Like scaling in the winter, I know how cold and windy it can be sometimes out on the road.  I’m sure getting out of the truck to put the quarters in and moving the truck across the scale was not a lot of fun twenty plus years ago.