Weigh Station (Truck Scale)

What is a Weigh Station? – Truck Scales

Weigh station truck scales are large, industrial scales designed to weigh vehicles and their loads. They’re commonly found at weigh stations along highways, at truck stops, and in loading docks at shipping and receiving facilities.
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Truck scales are built to withstand the weight of heavy commercial vehicles and can weigh loads ranging from several tons up to 80,000 pounds or more, depending on the type of scale and jurisdictional weight limits.

Importance of Truck Scales

1. Regulatory Compliance: Truck scales help enforce weight regulations set by the Department of Transportation (DOT). These regulations stipulate the maximum allowable weight for different types of commercial vehicles to prevent damage to roads and infrastructure.

2. Safety: Overloaded trucks pose significant safety risks, including longer stopping distances, increased potential for rollovers, and increased wear and tear on the vehicle. By ensuring trucks aren’t overloaded, scales help promote safety on our roads.
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3. Preventing Overloading Fees: Overloading a truck can result in hefty fines and penalties. By using truck scales, drivers and companies can ensure they’re within the legal weight limit and avoid such fines.

Types of Truck Scales

There are several types of truck scales, including:

1. Platform Scales: These are large platforms where the entire truck and its load are weighed at once.

2. Axle Scales: These weigh one axle at a time, providing a weight for each axle group which is then added together to get the total weight.

3. Onboard Scales: Installed directly on the truck, these scales provide real-time weight information while the truck is being loaded, and throughout the journey.

4. Portable Scales: These small, mobile scales can be moved and used where needed, often used by law enforcement for spot checks.

How Do Truck Scales Work?

The truck is driven onto the scale, and the weight is measured and recorded. If the truck is weighed at a government-operated weigh station, the weight is checked against the declared weight on the shipping documents. If the weight is within the legal limits, the truck is allowed to continue. If the truck is overweight, it may be ordered to offload excess weight or face fines.
Learn about PrePass here.
Learn about Gross Vehicle Weight here.
Learn about Weight Ticket here.
Learn about Overweight Load here.