November 22, 2023
Accurate weight measurement is important across many industries, and it’s especially vital when it comes to truck scales.
Shipping and trucking rely on precise weighing to move goods safely, stay compliant with regulations, and keep things running smoothly. Portable scales provide a flexible and reliable solution for a wide range of industries and uses.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the benefits of portable truck scales, what to think about when choosing one, the different types available, how they’re used in different industries, and some crucial maintenance tips to keep them performing at their best.
What is the Standard Truck Scale?
Standard truck scales, also known as low-profile weighing applications, are designed to measure truck axles or individual wheel weights.
These scales allow drivers to weigh truck axles or individual wheel weights. Using internal load cell technology to measure weight, wheel scales are built to handle the weight of trucks and their loads.
With truck axle scales, each axle or axle group is weighed separately. To calculate the gross vehicle weight (GVW) you add up the weight of each axle or axle group and then subtract the weight of the empty truck (Tare weight) from the total of the axle weights.
Benefits of Truck Scales
Using a portable scale in industrial settings offers a range of benefits. When accurate weight measurement is important, portable scales provide the precision you need, along with efficiency that helps improve operations.
Here are some of the reasons why portable scales for trucks are so valuable:
- Accuracy You Can Rely On: These scales are highly precise, offering measurements within 0.25% per axle and 1% for the overall weight of the truck.
- Durability and Cost-Effectiveness: These scales are built to last, making them a cost-effective choice for long-term use.
- Easy to Use: Despite their advanced features, portable truck scales are straightforward to operate, which makes the weighing process quick and hassle-free.
- Weigh-in-Motion for Faster Operations: Scales with weigh-in-motion capabilities allow trucks to maintain speeds of up to 3 mph while being weighed, speeding up the process.
Portable truck scales provide an efficient, reliable, and affordable way to improve your operations while ensuring accuracy.
What to Consider When Choosing Truck Scale Weighing Systems
When selecting a truck scale application for your operations, it’s essential to consider various factors to find an appropriate solution.
To determine if this is right for your requirements, the following factors should be evaluated:
- Legal-for-Trade Use & Compliance
- Location & Space
- Vehicle Maneuverability
- Static or Dynamic Data Collection
- Environmental Factors & Usage
- Temporary or Permanent Installation
- Calibration and Accuracy
- Durability & Protection
- Budget
With your weighing needs in mind, assessing these factors will determine an appropriate portable truck scale application that fully meets the requirements.
Different Types of Portable Scales for Trucks
There are two main types of scales: wheel weighers and axle pad scales.
Axle Pad Portable Truck Scales
Axle pad scales are built tough to handle all kinds of weather, year-round. Made with steel platforms and load cell components, these scales weigh trucks by the axle. They come in different setups, including single, dual, and triple-axle designs, to fit various needs.
They can be placed above ground with ramps for a portable solution or installed flush into concrete for a permanent weighing application. These scales are built to handle tough weather, from heavy rain and snow to temperature swings, making them perfect for challenging environments like mining sites, construction zones, and farms.
Wheel Weighers
Wheel weighers are portable and easy to use with a hand-held design. They’re great for quick, on-the-go weighing, but they work best on flat, dry surfaces.
They’re not the best choice for places with lots of moisture, mud, or freezing temperatures, as these conditions can affect their accuracy and lifespan. They’re better suited for temporary use in controlled environments like warehouses, distribution centers, or during roadside inspections in good weather.
Using wheel weights requires two people: one to position the weight correctly under the axle and the other to move the scale to measure each axle individually.
Portable Weight Scale Applications
Portable weight scales play an important role in many industries, helping businesses accurately assess GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) for better operations, safety, and compliance.
Mining
In mining, axle pad scales are essential for weighing minerals before they’re transported. Their portability and rugged design make them perfect for tough mining environments, whether it’s weighing vehicles above or below ground or measuring bins and materials.
Law Enforcement
For law enforcement, portable scales are key to monitoring truck weights on the road. They help ensure that vehicles comply with weight regulations and help promote road safety. These scales make enforcement easier and more efficient.
Agricultural Business
Agricultural businesses rely on axle pad scales to accurately calculate GVW when transporting products. This helps prevent overloading, minimizes damage, and ensures the accuracy of measurements for sales.
Cargo
Portable trailer scales also make loading and weighing cargo more efficient. By monitoring weight during loading, they help protect against overloading, making operations safer and keeping businesses in compliance.
Innovations in Truck Scale Technology
Truck scale technology has advanced significantly, offering smarter, more efficient solutions for businesses that depend on accurate weight measurements. Thanks to innovations like IoT monitoring and wireless connectivity, today’s truck scales are not only more reliable but also easier to manage.
- IoT-Enabled Monitoring: Modern truck scales now come with IoT capabilities that allow you to monitor them remotely in real time. Whether you’re on-site or away, you can track weight data, check calibration status, and receive maintenance alerts. This keeps you informed and ensures your scales are always in top shape.
- Wireless Data Transmission: Gone are the days of tangled wires and cables. With wireless data transmission, truck scales can easily connect to fleet management systems, streamlining operations and reducing setup complexity.
- Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) Technology: Weigh-in-motion technology allows trucks to be weighed while moving at low speeds, making weigh stations more efficient. This feature significantly reduces wait times and helps keep your operations flowing smoothly.
- Enhanced Load Cell Technology: Today’s load cells are built to last and offer even more precision. They can handle harsh weather conditions and provide accurate weight measurements, giving you confidence in your readings no matter the environment.
- Automated Calibration & Self-Diagnostics: High-end scales now come with automated calibration and self-diagnostic features, alerting you to potential issues before they become costly problems. These built-in systems save you time and effort, ensuring your scales stay accurate and reliable.
These innovations are revolutionizing the way businesses manage truck weighing. With smarter, more connected solutions, you can enjoy greater efficiency, better accuracy, and smoother operations, no matter the scale of your business.
Maintaining Your Portable Truck Scale
Keeping your truck axle scales well-maintained is key to ensuring they work at their best, meet industry standards like NIST regulations, and stay compliant while providing accurate measurements.
Taking care of your truck scales involves cleaning, checking for damage, addressing environmental challenges, and ensuring proper calibration. Regular cleaning helps keep dirt, debris, and other contaminants off the scale, which helps maintain accuracy and performance. A quick sweep with a broom is usually enough.
Inspecting portable weigh scales for trucks for damage or standing water is also important. Using scales that are damaged or haven’t been drained after bad weather can lead to costly repairs later on.
Routine calibration is another key part of scale maintenance. It ensures your scale works correctly, and it’s a good idea to calibrate your scales at least once a year or more often depending on how they are used and the conditions they’re exposed to.
Your Trusted Experts in Portable Truck Weighing Technology at Massload
Truck scales are essential for getting accurate weight measurements in industries like law enforcement, trucking, mining, and farming. In this guide, we’ve explored their benefits, factors to consider when choosing the right scale, the different types available, and how to properly maintain them. These scales do more than measure weight; they help improve operations and ensure compliance with regulations. As industries evolve, reliable scales remain a must-have for businesses.
Investing in a high-quality truck scale will boost your operations and give you precise weight measurements when you need them most.
Massload Technologies has been a trusted partner in weighing solutions since 1981. We’re here to provide expert advice and help you find the right scale for your business. If you have any questions or need a quote, we’re always happy to assist! Contact us today!
