Maryland Completes $4.4M Truck Weigh Station Upgrade

Maryland has completed a $4.4 million project at a truck weigh station on the state’s Eastern Shore. The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration announced the completion on August 31, 2026.

The project updated the US 13 Truck Weigh and Inspection Station in Delmar. The facility is north of Salisbury in Wicomico County, near the Maryland-Delaware state line.

The truck weigh station serves commercial vehicles traveling in both directions on US 13. Maryland State Police have operated the facility since 1967.

Truck Weigh Station Receives New Equipment

The project replaced or updated several parts of the Delmar facility. One of the main changes is the installation of modern deep-pit scales used to measure commercial vehicle weight.

The station also received a new computer system. The equipment will be used during commercial vehicle weighing and inspection operations.

Maryland installed new truck-height detectors and an LED signal display. The height detectors can identify vehicles that may exceed applicable limits. The LED display provides instructions to drivers moving through the station.

Other completed work includes:

• Additional parking for commercial vehicle inspections
• Updated traffic barriers and lighting
• Closed-circuit security cameras
• New and improved signs
• Refurbished entrance gates
• Eyewash stations for employees
• New modular inspection buildings

The modular buildings replaced existing office trailers. Maryland completed work on both the northbound and southbound sides of US 13.

Project Did Not Expand the Property

The modernization did not expand the truck weigh station’s overall property. All construction took place within the existing state right-of-way.

Maryland added parking for trucks undergoing inspections, but the announcement did not describe it as overnight truck parking. The facility remains a commercial vehicle weighing and inspection location.

Maryland separately states that drivers may park at some truck weigh and inspection stations when those facilities are closed. Availability depends on station operations and posted restrictions.

The project announcement did not identify any change to parking access at the Delmar facility.

Delmar Facility Was Constructed in 1955

The Delmar truck weigh station was originally constructed in 1955. According to the State Highway Administration, it is one of two remaining Maryland scale houses built that year.

The facility is located on US 13 between Mallard Drive and Winner Boulevard. US 13 is a north-south route running through the Delmarva Peninsula and connecting parts of Maryland, Delaware and Virginia.

Maryland State Police began operating the station in 1967. The agency’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division currently handles inspections and enforcement at the location.

Harkins Contracting Inc. of Salisbury served as the project’s main contractor.

Final Cost Differs From Original Estimate

Maryland first announced the project in December 2025. At that time, the State Highway Administration estimated that construction would cost $5.2 million.

The original schedule called for work to begin in December 2025 and finish during summer 2026, weather permitting. The state announced the project’s completion on August 31.

The completion announcement listed the project at $4.4 million. It did not explain the $800,000 difference between the original estimate and the amount reported at completion.

Without further information from the agency, the difference should not be characterized as savings or an under-budget project.

What Inspectors Examine at Maryland Stations

The Maryland State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division operates the Delmar facility. The division conducts safety inspections and enforces state and federal commercial vehicle laws.

Depending on the type and level of inspection, officers can examine:

• Vehicle weight and dimensions
• Brakes, tires, lights and other equipment
• Cargo and load securement
• Vehicle registration and operating credentials
• Driver licensing and qualifications
• Hours-of-service records

A truck may first be weighed and visually reviewed. Inspectors can then direct the vehicle to a separate area for a more detailed examination.

The new announcement does not establish different inspection standards. It also does not change Maryland’s weight limits, commercial driver requirements or hours-of-service rules.

Maryland did not say whether the new equipment will change the number of trucks selected for inspection.

Maryland Operates a Statewide Inspection Network

The Delmar station is part of Maryland’s wider truck weigh and inspection system. Maryland State Police and Maryland Transportation Authority Police operate permanent and portable scale locations.

According to the State Highway Administration, approximately 1.8 million trucks and commercial vehicles are weighed in Maryland each year. About 95,000 vehicles receive inspections annually.

Maryland says 13 truck weigh and inspection stations have permanent scales. Four additional locations use portable scales. Some facilities also use weigh-in-motion systems to screen commercial vehicles for possible weight violations.

The state also operates virtual weigh stations. Those systems can monitor vehicle speed, size and weight without placing a traditional staffed scale facility at every location.

These statewide figures describe Maryland’s overall inspection program. The state did not release annual traffic, weighing or inspection figures for the Delmar station.

US 13 Truck Weigh Station Project Is Complete

The completed project replaces equipment and facilities at a station constructed more than 70 years ago. Maryland reported a final project amount of $4.4 million.

The work included new scales, height detectors, computer equipment, inspection parking, lighting, cameras and modular buildings. Maryland did not enlarge the property or announce changes to its commercial vehicle regulations.