BATON ROUGE — Between 2023 and 2025, the state missed out on millions of dollars worth of penalty fees for oversized and overweight trucks on major roadways, according to an audit that dropped Monday from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor.

The audit found that many trucks drive around weigh stations in the state. As a result, trucks that are potentially oversized or overweight may avoid permit fees or penalty fees for carrying loads that require documentation, thus not paying their part to use the state's roads and also contributing to the deterioration of said roads.

The audit also pointed out that the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development took over operation of weigh stations in July 2022. Between the 2023 and 2025 fiscal years, the audit noted that despite an increase in budget and staffing for DOTD's stationary enforcement, the program weighed fewer trucks and issued fewer violations.

"Whether it's preventing a too-heavy truck from driving on them, or making sure they're paying the correct permit, we can mitigate any damage done by that truck.[It] is really important," LLA Performance Audit Manager Gina Brown said.

Brown told WBRZ the report makes recommendations to make sure everybody who uses the state's major roadways pays for that use. Monday's report follows a similar audit report from last year, which recommended Louisiana increase its permit fees for oversized or overweight trucks to bring in more revenue for road maintenance.

"If you think about it, a truck could start in Texas and fuel up and drive all the way across Louisiana and not have to stop for gas. If they don't have the correct permit that they've paid for their load, they illegally bypass a weigh station and they don't have to get gas in Louisiana; they're not paying in any way for the damage they're causing to the roads," Brown said.

Per the audit, DOTD maintains responsibility for 17 weigh stations across the state. Of those, the audit says, 10 are in active use.

"In the time since DOTD had this program back, they hadn't fined one truck for bypassing a weigh station illegally," Brown said.

The Legislative Auditor's report claims DOTD left money on the table by not fining trucks that illegally bypassed weigh stations. The report says state law allows DOTD to fine between $100 and $500 for each truck that illegally bypasses.

The report says during two-hour observations at six weigh stations, 733 trucks illegally passed without consequence. Adding, the state could have collected between 73-thousand to 366-thousand dollars in fines from the trucks.

Along with recommendations to help DOTD more efficiently track and enforce illegal bypassing, the audit also noted potential overlap between DOTD and Louisiana State Police when it comes to mobile enforcement and offered the matter up for legislative consideration.

"We made a matter for legislative consideration that this needs to be better defined so you're not overlapping the same sections of the road. Essentially, so you have better defined what their responsibilities are, so you can be more efficient with taxpayer dollars," Brown said.

DOTD agreed with the audit's recommendations and said some have already been put into place, will be in place in Fall 2026, or will be addressed in the 2027 Legislative Regular Session.

"Oversize and overweight vehicles can create safety concerns for motorists and contribute to the additional wear on Louisiana’s transportation infrastructure. Addressing those challenges effectively requires the right personnel, equipment, policies, technology and coordination among the agencies responsible for keeping our roadways safe," the agency wrote in a response shared with WBRZ.

The agency also shared it had purchased 120 portable scales to allow DOTD Police for mobile weight enforcement operations. Those efforts are expected to begin Oct. 1, 2026. The agency told WBRZ that since it began targeted weigh station bypass violations, DOTD Police has already assessed $63,000 in bypass violation fines.

Brown says, since May, some of the recommendations have already been implemented.

"Since May, [DOTD has] been piloting, enforcing illegal bypasses, and pulling over trucks illegally bypassing, which is more than they were doing previous to that. We're very hopeful," Brown said.

Louisiana State Police told WBRZ it does work with DOTD and will conduct joint enforcement details targeting illegal weigh station bypass activity. In a statement to WBRZ, the agency writes in part:

"LSP currently coordinates with DOTD on commercial motor vehicle enforcement efforts, consistent with each agency’s respective responsibilities. Moving forward, LSP will continue that coordination while identifying additional opportunities to enhance enforcement efforts, including sharing relevant roadway and enforcement information. LSP remains responsible for statewide mobile size and weight enforcement, while DOTD oversees enforcement activities associated with stationary weigh stations."

The Size and Weight Enforcement on State and Federal Highways audit can be found here.