As the weather warms in Canada, commercial industries are gearing up for a busy season. As a result, more businesses are looking into portable truck scales for their grain trucks, dump trucks, hotshot trucks, and more. If you’re considering investing in a portable truck scale, we’re here to help.
Read on below, as we dive into the fascinating fundamentals of portable truck scales. By the end of this short blog, you’ll learn all about truck scales’ inner workings, proper setup, and why you should choose one! Read on to learn more.
How Portable Truck Scales Work
Before learning why portable truck scales are an asset to businesses, we have to start at the beginning of the story.
At their core, portable truck scales work similarly to other scales. Inside every portable truck scale are highly sensitive components known as load cells. Once a truck is driven onto the portable truck scale, the load is detected by those load cells. These load cells bend in response, converting mechanical force into an electrical signal.
This electrical signal is sent through cabling to the indicator, where it gets converted into a displayed weight reading. The indicator pulls in the signal from each load cell across the deck, sums them, and calculates the total weight in pounds or kilograms.
How to Set Up a Portable Truck Scale
Precise measurements start at the foundation—the setup. While setting up portable truck scales is relatively quick, it can still fail if not done correctly.
Before starting the setup process, inspect the ground to ensure it’s fully level in the immediate area. You’ll also want to ensure that the ground is stable and free of debris. If the area isn’t level or is on a slope, the vehicle’s full weight may not be calculated accurately. On gravel or hard-packed dirt, laying down steel plates under each pad creates a flatter and more predictable surface for weighing.
Once that’s complete, gravel ramps will be constructed to be able to drive the vehicle up onto the portable truck scales.
Why Choose Portable?
Accurate Scale proudly offers both portable and permanent truck scales to help businesses streamline their operations. While both options have certainly earned their place among popular industrial scales, some factors may sway some buyers toward portable scales.
- Faster Set-Up: Portable truck scales offer a flexible solution that can be set up within minutes. There’s no concrete pad to pour, no excavation crew to schedule, and no long lead time before the first truck rolls onto the platform.
- Avoid Fines & Fees: Overweight trucks in Canada can face fines of several thousand dollars if caught. For non-permanent worksites, portable truck scales allow drivers to verify their load before leaving the yard, which avoids the cost of a rejected delivery, a roadside ticket, or a load that has to be repositioned at the weigh station.
- Upfront Savings: Compared to their permanent counterparts, portable truck scales are significantly more cost-effective upfront.
Scales That Measure Up with Accurate Scale
At Accurate Scale, scales are our specialty. Whether you’re running a seasonal worksite or weighing loads at a fixed location, the right portable truck scale keeps your operation moving and your numbers pinpoint-precise. Reach out to us today to learn more about how we can help you find the right scale for your business.