Section 1457.640  Determination of Weights

a)         Each carrier shall determine the tare weight of each vehicle used in the transportation of household goods to be rated on a hundred-weight basis by having it weighed prior to the transportation of each shipment, at a public scale, without the crew on the vehicle.  Scales used shall be certified by the Illinois Department of Agriculture.  When weighed, the vehicle shall contain all pads, chains, dollies, hand trucks, and other equipment needed in the transportation of the shipment.  After the vehicle has been loaded, it shall be weighed, without the crew, at the point of origin of the shipment.  The net weight of the shipment shall be obtained by deducting the tare weight from the loaded weight.  Where no certified scale is available at the point of origin, the loaded weight shall be obtained at the  nearest public scale, either in the direction of the movement of the shipment, or in the direction of the next pickup or delivery in the case of part loads.  Gross weight shall be obtained on the same scale as the tare weight with no addition of fuel between weighings.

b)         If no certified scale is available at the point of origin, at any point en route, or at the final destination, a constructive weight based upon 7 pounds per cubic  foot of properly loaded van space shall be used.  That constructive weight also shall be used for a part load where the circumstances are such that its scale weight could not be obtained  at the point of origin, en route, or at the final destination without first unloading it or other part loads being carried in the same vehicle.

c)         Whenever weights are required to be obtained pursuant to this Section, the carrier shall obtain a weight ticket, and this weight ticket shall be maintained by the carrier as part of its record of the shipment.  A copy of the weight ticket shall be given to the shipper.