D-2 POE photograph selected to compete nationally

Thanks to all who submitted pictures to the “DMV in Action” photography contest. The contest goal was to find a single photograph, taken by an internal staff member, that illustrates one of the ways the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) serves its customers.

Judged on innovation and visual impact, a photograph by District 2’s Ron Morgan stood apart by visually telling a vivid story of how Idaho Ports of Entry workers weigh over-legal loads and work to protect the motorist and the integrity of state highways. 

As a composition, the photo illustrates the enormity of the megaload in comparison to a person and maximizes a unique vantage point while incorporating bright colors and natural surroundings.

The selected photograph was submitted to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) to compete nationally in the Public Affairs and Consumer Education (PACE) awards contest. 
 
Congratulations to the photographer and local winner Ron Morgan, District 2 POE.


About the photograph, by Ron Morgan

“One of the tasks that Port of Entry inspectors perform is weighing Commercial Motor Vehicles.  Roving inspectors generally carry 10 Haenni portable scales and can weigh a typical 80,000-lb. five-axle truck fairly quickly (it requires two scales per axle).  Trucks with more axles take multiple weighments and a little extra time to weigh all the axles.
 
“Enter the ‘megaloads.’

Weighing of the megaloads presented a bigger challenge.  Some of these loads consisted of up to 21 axles, most of which required four scales per axle to weigh.  Weighing time increased from minutes for a normal load, to hours for some megaloads. 

“Normally, a scale would be placed in front of each group of tires and the truck could simply pull up onto them, add the weights, and pull the truck back off.  With the megaloads, some of the groups of tires were located in the middle of the trailer underneath the load.  Not only did scales get placed for the group of tires on the outside, but the inspector had to crawl under the load to place the scales for the inner tires as well.  Once the vehicle was on the scales, the inspector had to crawl underneath to get the weight readings for each scale. 

As there weren't enough scales to do all the axles at once, the loads would pull off the scales, the inspector would retrieve them and place them under next section of load, repeating the process.”
 
The photograph is of one of Mammoet's loads. The inspector in the picture is Henry Daniels, Morgan's partner in the Lewiston roving scale operation.

Published 3-30-2012