Get to Know the Three Ways to Weigh Trucks

We’ve covered topics like scale technology and weighing factors before on our blog. Now, we’re going to take a look at three ways to physically weigh trucks. This is an important consideration to make if you’re looking for truck scales for sale in Montana because it can depend greatly on the final application of your scale.

The Three Weighing Methods

Getting a truck up and onto a scale might seem like the only step in weighing something that massive, but in fact, depending on the scale being used, it might only be the first step in the weighing process. There are three different ways to determine how you’re going to weigh your truck based on the type of scale being used:

• Single-axle method: Trucks are multi-axle vehicles. One of the easiest ways to get the gross weight for something so big and heavy is to weigh each axle individually. This involves the driver driving the truck up onto the scale one axle at a time to generate a reading. Many scales, such as bending plate scales, can even accomplish this simultaneously. The weights of all axles are added together for the total mass of the truck.
• Stop weighing: Drive up onto the scale, stop for a few seconds to get a reading, then drive off—it’s as simple as that with stop weighing! Generally, stop weighing is the simplest and most effective way to generate a weight reading. Load cells enhance the accuracy of stop weighing by generating a consistent current the entire time the truck is stopped, for an average weight that’s closer to the actual.
• Weight in motion: For weight in motion (WIM) scales, the driver doesn’t even have to stop their truck. Just drive up onto the scale and keep on going! Sensors will measure the weight displacement for the entire process, providing an accurate reading of the truck’s weight afterwards. This is done via piezoelectric sensors, which measure compression and displacement via electrical current.

All of these are valid ways to measure the gross weight of a truck, and all are employed throughout the country to great effect today.

Which Option Is Best?

Choosing the right type of truck scales for sale in Montana comes down to the application. WIM scales may be great for weigh stations seeing regular traffic, while stop weighing scales might be better suited for loading chutes that require clear stoppage and accurate loading measurement in real time.

Consider the weighing application you’re faced with and what the best course of action may be for securing an accurate weight. The type of scale you choose can have significant bearing on the efficiency by which you’re able to consistently measure truck weights.

Remember also that the type of scale you choose may be dependent on the sensors that actuate its function. WIM scales almost always utilize piezoelectric sensors, for example, making them a more exclusive option for some applications. All factors of a scale’s construction and function bear thinking about!

Categorised in: Truck Scales for Sale

This post was written by Writer