Key takeaways
- A CAT scale is a certified truck scale run by the CAT Scale Company, found at truck stops across the US.
- A first weigh costs $15.25 and a reweigh $5.25 (same truck, same scale, within 24 hours), according to CAT Scale’s FAQ as of October 2026 – prices change, so check the posted price.
- The scale weighs steer, drive and trailer axles separately, so you can slide the tandems or fifth wheel before you leave.
- If you get an overweight fine after a legal CAT ticket, the CAT guarantee applies: they check their scale and reimburse the fine if it was wrong.
On this page
What is a CAT scale?
A CAT scale is a certified truck scale operated by the CAT Scale Company, usually located at a truck stop or travel center. It has three platforms, so it measures the weight on your steer axle, your drive axles and your trailer axles at the same time, plus the gross weight.
Truck drivers use CAT scales to check a load before they reach a weigh station. An official weigh station can fine you for being overweight; a CAT scale tells you in advance, while you can still fix it by sliding your tandems, moving the fifth wheel or having the shipper rework the load.
We list 2,432 truck scales on our truck scale map, most of them at truck stops.
How much does a CAT scale cost?
| Weigh | Price (CAT FAQ) | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| First weigh | $15.25 | Any time |
| Reweigh | $5.25 | Same truck and trailer, same scale, within 24 hours, with the first ticket |
Prices change from time to time and can differ at some locations, so check the price posted at the scale. In California, a separate certified weighmaster certificate costs more. Many fleets pay through a fuel card or a weigh account, so drivers don’t pay out of pocket.
How to use a CAT scale, step by step
- Pull onto the scale slowly and stop with each axle group on its own platform: steer axle on the first, drives on the second, trailer tandems on the third. Signs or lines show where.
- Press the intercom button at the driver’s window and tell the scale operator it’s a first weigh or a reweigh. Give your truck number and, if asked, your trailer number.
- Wait for the go-ahead, then pull off the scale and park.
- Go inside to pay and pick up the ticket at the fuel desk. Some locations offer an app that lets you weigh without going inside.
- Check the ticket: steer, drive, trailer and gross weight. If an axle group is over, adjust and come back for a reweigh.
How to read your CAT scale ticket
The ticket lists the weight on each of the three platforms and the gross weight. Compare them with the limits for your route. On the Interstate System, the federal limits are 20,000 lbs on a single axle, 34,000 lbs on a tandem axle and 80,000 lbs gross, with the bridge formula applying to axle groups – states can allow more with permits.
| Platform | Measures | Typical legal target |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steer axle | Within the steer axle rating |
| 2 | Drive tandems | 34,000 lbs or less |
| 3 | Trailer tandems | 34,000 lbs or less |
| Total | Gross vehicle weight | 80,000 lbs or less |
Fixing an overweight axle
- Drives over, trailer light: slide the trailer tandems forward to move weight onto the trailer axles.
- Trailer over, drives light: slide the tandems back.
- Steer axle over: slide the fifth wheel back (if your tractor has a sliding fifth wheel).
- Gross over 80,000 lbs: sliding won’t help – the load or fuel has to come down.
Every change shifts weight between axle groups, so reweigh after you adjust. That’s what the cheaper reweigh price is for.
What is the CAT Scale guarantee?
If you get an overweight fine from a state after a CAT scale showed you were legal, CAT Scale says it will check its scale right away. If the scale was wrong, it reimburses the fine; if the scale was right, a company representative will appear in court with the driver as a witness. According to CAT, it doesn’t matter in which state you bought the ticket, as long as you had a legal ticket before the citation.
Keep your ticket with your paperwork for the trip – it’s your proof.
CAT scales for RVs and pickups
CAT scales aren’t just for trucks. RV owners often weigh their rig to check that it’s within the manufacturer’s ratings – an overloaded RV handles worse and wears tires and brakes faster. The process is the same; tell the operator what you’re weighing, and if your RV doesn’t fit the three-platform pattern, weigh it in steps.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a CAT scale?
A certified truck scale run by the CAT Scale Company, usually at a truck stop. It weighs steer, drive and trailer axles separately and prints a guaranteed weight ticket.
How much does a CAT scale cost?
According to CAT Scale’s FAQ (October 2026), $15.25 for a first weigh and $5.25 for a reweigh of the same vehicle on the same scale within 24 hours. Check the posted price, since prices change.
How long does a CAT scale weigh take?
A few minutes on the scale, plus the time to pay and pick up the ticket inside.
Can you weigh an RV on a CAT scale?
Yes. Many RV owners use CAT scales to check their rig against the manufacturer’s weight ratings.
Sources
Rules change. If you find an error, tell us – see our editorial policy for how we check facts.
IT enthusiast · builds free data tools
Sinan is an IT enthusiast from Bad Homburg, Germany, who builds free tools that turn open data into answers for everyday problems – from bike pumps (bike-pump.com) to rest stops. He doesn’t drive a truck for a living; every rule in these guides comes from the state or federal source linked next to it.