Whether you’re in manufacturing, logistics, construction, or another industry, businesses in Canada have one thing in common: compliance is key. Commercial truck scales are an integral part of this process, ensuring loads remain compliant at every step.
Below, let’s break down what Legal for Trade means for truck scales, why it matters, and when you’re required to ensure your truck scale meets these standards. Read on to learn more.
What Does Legal for Trade Mean?
Legal for Trade is a national certification that ensures compliance with high standards set by Measurement Canada and other regulatory bodies. It ensures that the scale can reliably operate across weighing ranges, can provide consistent results, among other set standards.
It should be clear and easily verifiable if a scale is Legal for Trade certified. Certified scales will have a small sticker or seal that displays the inspection date and an approval seal. In addition, the scale should include a certificate confirming the verification and identifying the Authorized Service Provider. The sticker date is often the first thing inspectors check during an audit, so it pays to keep records of every re-examination in case the original sticker is ever damaged.
Generally, re-examination runs every 1 to 5 years, depending on the industry.
When Is a Legal-For-Trade Truck Scale Required?
For commercial and industrial businesses across Canada, legal-for-trade status on their truck scales isn’t optional.It must be used for commercial weighing purposes, where legal commercial transactions are completed based on weight. If the number on the scale is directly tied to a financial transaction, you’ll need a legal-for-trade scale. The penalties for non-compliance can include fines, contract loss, and forced reweighing of past loads, so certification for any scale that touches outbound transactions is crucial.
That said, not all jobs require a Legal-For-Trade commercial truck scale. If it stays internal, a non-certified scale can work. Some of these tasks include internal checks, load balancing between fleet vehicles, and pre-checking before weigh stations.
Example #1: Bulk Materials
An empty truck pulls into a gravel yard, where it’s then weighed. It’s then loaded with gravel and weighed again to get the actual weight of the bought material. This final number appears on an invoice showing the amount to be paid.
Legal for Trade required? Yes.
Example #2: Stockpile Tracking
At a construction site, a crew is working through a project in stages and has just completed one phase. A truck moves one pile of dirt from one location to another, which is weighed to track how much remains and whether more will be needed to complete the project.
Legal for Trade required? No.
Example #3: Proof of Quantities
A grain producer hauls wheat to an elevator. The truck rolls onto the scale before and after unloading. The difference is the official quantity on the producer’s settlement and the elevator’s intake records. That number determines the producer’s payout and the elevator’s intake record at the buying station. Those records may need to be pulled years later if a discrepancy or an audit arises.
Legal for Trade required? Yes.
Accuracy You Can Trust with Accurate Scale
Accurate Scale is one of Western Canada’s largest industrial scale suppliers. We’re proudly Canadian, delivering comprehensive weighing solutions to operations across the country. If you’re in the market for a commercial truck scale, rail scale, or another weighing device, we’re here to help.
Visit our Edmonton location today or contact us to speak with a scale specialist.