DOTD enforces weights and standards beginning July 1

Published 12:21 pm Thursday, June 30, 2022

BATON ROUGE – Today, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced that commercial weights and standards enforcement within the state will transfer to DOTD from the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C). Act 384 of the 2021 Regular Legislative Session moves stationary weight enforcement under DOTD’s authority effective July 1, 2022. The act also creates the Weights and Standards Stationary Scales Police Force within DOTD.

“This is a major move that demonstrates DOTD’s unwavering commitment to safety for all travelers in our state,” said DOTD Secretary Shawn D. Wilson, Ph.D. “We are committed to building a state-of-the-art system that will provide an efficient and effective process for this critical industry.”

The legislature has transferred weight enforcement in Louisiana between DPS&C and DOTD a few times in the past. Most recently, the legislature moved weight enforcement in 2010 from DOTD to DPS&C.

Weight enforcement enhances the safety of the motoring public by ensuring that commercial vehicles fall within state laws regarding weight, size, and registration. DOTD’s new weights and standards police will consist of fully commissioned police officers, most of whom are existing officers who will transfer from the state police. The police force will also oversee operations at the state’s weigh stations.

DOTD will continue issuing and overseeing oversize/overweight, harvest, and escort permits.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is committed to delivering transportation and public works systems that enhance the quality of life. In addition to more than 16,600 miles of roadway, including over 890 miles of interstate, DOTD supports the development of the state’s aviation, marine and rail infrastructures. Through this work, we are able to facilitate economic development, create job opportunities, improve vital evacuation routes, and make critical freight corridors safer and more efficient.

For more information, please visit www.dotd.la.gov, email dotdcs@la.gov, or call DOTD’s Customer Service Center at (225) 379-1232 or 1-877-4LADOTD (1-877-452-3683). Business hours are 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please let us know how we may better serve you: Customer Service Survey.