New Louisiana Audit Raises Weigh Station Concerns

Louisiana Audit Finds 7 Weigh Stations Closed as Trucks Bypassed Inspections

A new Louisiana legislative audit found that seven of the state’s 17 permanent weigh stations were not operating during the review period, while auditors also observed hundreds of commercial trucks bypassing required inspections at several locations.

The report, released by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor, examined how the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) and the Louisiana State Police enforce the state’s truck size and weight laws. According to the audit, fewer trucks were weighed, fewer overweight violations were issued, and penalty collections declined between fiscal years 2023 and 2025.

The audit also identified several recommendations aimed at improving enforcement, while the Louisiana State Police disputed portions of the report and defended its current enforcement practices.

Louisiana audit highlights weigh station closures

According to the audit, seven of Louisiana’s 17 permanent weigh stations were not operational during the review period. The report states that some facilities were closed because of roadway construction, building conditions, or technology issues.

The audit found that the reduced number of operating weigh stations limited the state’s ability to inspect commercial vehicles for compliance with Louisiana’s size and weight laws.

In addition to the station closures, auditors reported that some weigh stations did not remain open for the minimum hours required under state policy.

The report noted that truck weight enforcement is intended to help protect highways and bridges from damage caused by overweight vehicles while promoting compliance with state regulations.

Auditors observed hundreds of trucks bypassing inspections

As part of the audit, investigators monitored activity at six Louisiana weigh stations.

According to the report, 733 commercial trucks bypassed weigh stations where they were required to stop, representing approximately 15.6% of the trucks that should have entered those facilities during the observation periods.

The audit did not conclude that every bypass resulted in a violation. Instead, it documented the number of trucks that did not enter the weigh stations when required during the monitored periods.

Enforcement activity declined, audit says

The audit found that several truck weight enforcement measures declined over the three-year review period.

According to the report:

• The number of commercial trucks weighed decreased by approximately 13%.
• Overweight truck violations fell by about 50%.
• Penalties issued declined by approximately 36%.
• Revenue collected from truck weight penalties decreased by approximately 42%.

Auditors also reported that approximately $2 million in assessed truck weight penalties had not been collected.

The report noted that these declines occurred even though state spending and staffing dedicated to truck weight enforcement increased during the same period.

Audit recommends several changes

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor made multiple recommendations designed to improve truck weight enforcement across the state.

Among the recommendations were:

• Expanding the use of mobile weigh scales.
• Increasing the use of virtual weigh station technology.
• Improving coordination between the Louisiana DOTD and the Louisiana State Police.
• Strengthening the state’s ability to collect unpaid penalties from out-of-state carriers.
• Improving oversight of weigh station operations and enforcement data.

According to the audit, these changes could help improve compliance with Louisiana’s truck size and weight laws while increasing enforcement efficiency.

Louisiana State Police dispute portions of the audit

The Louisiana State Police responded to the audit and disagreed with several of its findings.

In its written response included in the report, the agency stated that weigh station operations are influenced by staffing availability, safety considerations, infrastructure conditions, and other operational factors. State Police officials also said that measuring enforcement performance solely by weigh station operating hours does not fully reflect their enforcement efforts.

The agency also defended its enforcement strategy, noting that officers use additional methods beyond permanent weigh stations to identify commercial vehicle violations.

While disputing parts of the audit, the Louisiana State Police stated that it remains committed to enforcing commercial vehicle safety and size and weight laws throughout the state.

What happens next?

The audit does not create new laws or enforcement requirements. Instead, it provides recommendations for state agencies to consider as they evaluate Louisiana’s truck weight enforcement program.

If state officials adopt some of the proposed changes, truck drivers could eventually see expanded use of mobile weighing equipment, additional technology at weigh stations, and changes designed to improve enforcement and penalty collection.

For now, the report offers a detailed look at how Louisiana currently enforces truck size and weight regulations while presenting both the auditors’ findings and the Louisiana State Police’s response to those findings.