Troopers say semi truck driver who bypassed scales was trying to hide severely damaged trailer

Troopers with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) found major damage to a semi truck’s trailer after stopping the vehicle for bypassing the scale house in Cottonwood.

On December 10, 2025, troopers stationed at CHP’s Cottonwood Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility detailed a recent encounter with a truck driver who they say skipped the scales to try to conceal a badly damaged trailer.

“One of our Northern Division Commercial Mobile Road Enforcement officers stopped a driver for bypassing the scales. It wasn’t until the officer had a clear view of the passenger side of the vehicle that he found the reason why the driver attempted to go down the freeway unnoticed,” CHP said.

Troopers shared several photos of the damaged trailer after it was returned to the facility for inspection.