Truck weight enforcement

Ted Weatheford says " We have already had two drivers leave and we are scared more drivers will leave us stranded with our crop in the field." Concho Valley farmer and feed lot owner Ted Weatherford says he concerned about overly strict enforcement of weight limits on trucks used to haul feed corn. Ted Weatherford says "We have a limited window on harvesting this corn. If it gets too dry we are unable to pack it in our silage pit. It will then mold and ruin." Local dairy farmer Ike Tapia depends on corn for his dairy cattle. Ike Tapia says " The corn silage is really important for the dairy cows and make the costs cheaper. The past years have been bad for dairy farmers and we need the corn bad." But in Texas, the weight of a truck has to be within one-thousand pounds of the stated weight -- per axle -- a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety says he understands farmers concerns -- but the regulations are in place because of safety. Shawn Baxter says " we understand the roads are designed to move commerce and agricultural products, but we also have a responsibility to everyday motorists traveling to work and school." But Weatherford -- who has large - drive-on platform scales -- says he disputes the accuracy of the scales the d-p-s officers are using to weigh trucks right as they pull out of Concho Valley corn fields. A Lipan feed lot employee says Weatherfords scales are certified by the department of agriculture. Kim Mathis says " it has been certified by buffalo gap scale company and was done in April. We have people coming in all the time and we compare their weight to ours. They are always just right on." Baxter says the hand-held press scales used by d-p-s officers are certified by state officials. Shawn Baxter says "CVE troopers carry hand scales. These scales are calibrated annually. A supervisor in San Angelo checks each of the scales. We also have an official from Austin check calibration. Farmers do not like their trucks being repeatedly weighed as they pull onto farm to market roads from the fields. Ted Weatherford says " it is one thing for the dot to stop the trucks to make sure they are safe and registered. To stop the trucks repeatedly and check for weight is excessive." Mike Moritz, KLST News>>