Scale operators are always looking for ways to minimize their costs to help maximize their ROI. The easiest way to stay compliant and keep costs down is to stay on schedule with preventative maintenance and keep your scale clean and debris free. While it may seem unnecessary and expensive to pay for preventative maintenance services by a certified scale service provider, in the end, it can save you time, money and additional work for your staff.
Active Scale can not only evaluate your scale, but actually create a custom preventative maintenance program specific for your truck scale, budget and business needs. You can do your part by routinely checking for debris and moisture under and around your truck scale, both of which can lead to problems with your scale.
Here are just four examples of how debris and moisture can cost you money along with practical solutions to keep your truck scale clean and in good working order.
1. Accumulation of dirt
Dirty scales tend to accumulate moisture which can lead to rusting and corrosion. The moisture can also cause premature ageing of the hardware and adversely affect the functioning of the moving parts of your mechanical truck scale.
The solution
Schedule a periodic inspection for your in-ground truck scale to ensure that the pumps and pit draining systems are working at peak efficiency. If you have an above ground truck scale, make sure there is adequate clearance between the structure and the ground. Pit mounted truck scales should be checked every month for pooling water and rust buildup.
2. Seasonal weather changes
Keeping your truck scales clean could not be more important than during late fall and early spring months. It’s during these times of the year when there are sudden drops in temperature at night that any debris or water present could freeze within the truck scale.
Any frozen components can render moving parts dysfunctional and although the damage may not be critical initially, it may lead to damage to critical and expensive parts, such as load cells, if left unchecked.
The solution
Conduct a weekly inspection of your scale to ensure that it is free from dirt, debris and moisture. Invest in equipment, such as a pump, to avoid the problems arising due to pooled water. Inspect assemblies and load cells for any accumulation of dirt, moisture or debris. If you have an in-ground scale, inspect the side frames of the platform and the leading edge of the foundations for movement in position.
Properly winterizing your truck scale before the seasons change is another critical step to take.
If you notice any change in position, it should be immediately reported to your service provider. A change in position of your truck scale will most likely result in inaccurate weights.
3. Increased abrasion
The more dirt and buildup on a scale and its components, the more friction and/or binding it generates which builds resistance. This resistance could potentially require repairs and shorten the service life of your truck scale.
As few as fifteen minutes per day spent cleaning your truck scale could eventually save you thousands of dollars in repair costs. If you have a mechanical truck scale, greasing the moving parts is also critical to the scale’s functionality.
The solution
Keep you truck scale clean and debris free and if you have a mechanical truck scale, have your service provider grease the moving parts.
Check your scale for friction and binding. You should be able to tell if the friction is due to dirt or due to parts that are working against each other. It is best to contact your scale service provider with any issues you can’t solve with cleaning.
4. Inaccurate results
If your scale is not functioning correctly or you are finding discrepancies in the weight measurements, it could be due to dirt and debris. Mistaken readings can invite legal issues and jeopardize your credibility. Not to mention inaccurate scales can also reduce your profitability.
The solution
It is recommended that you have your truck scale serviced periodically by a certified scale service provider. A good idea would be to schedule your service early spring and fall to coincide with seasonal weather changes which can affect your scale performance.
It is best to have your truck scales tested at least twice a year for performance. More or less frequency of testing and calibrating will depend on how often your scale is being used. A truck scale being used numerous times per day may require up to 3-4 preventative services per year, while a scale used only a few times a week may require only one preventative service per year.
A wise plan would be to create a truck scale maintenance checklist that keeps you on track and helps you stay compliant. Specializing in installing, repairing and servicing truck scales and other heavy capacity scales, Active Scale can provide you with a quote for maintenance service specifically tailored to your scale. If you want more information on how to prolong the life and serviceability of your truck scale, call Active Scale today toll free at 1–866–284–2223.
