Due to a truck scale’s critical importance to your business, its preventative maintenance program plays a key role in the uptime and profitability of your facility. After all, what better way to save money on repairs or lost productivity than keeping your scales in optimal working order with the help of a checklist?

The answer is simple, implementing a proper service and maintenance schedule will help keep your scales clean and debris free. Routine maintenance reduces the likelihood of damage to scale, which in turn can lead to excessive downtime, costly equipment repairs and lost profits.

Having a weighing scale preventive maintenance checklist is very useful. Here are some simple tasks that every truck scale operator should perform to ensure your truck scales stay clean and reliable when you need them most.

Daily Maintenance Tasks

On a daily basis, operators should visually inspect the platform to ensure it is free from debris. A buildup in debris and dust can result in inaccurate weight measurements.

It would also be beneficial to check that the side and end frames are not fouled and that the digital display reads zero before a vehicle drives on to the platform.

For pit-mounted installations, if the T-section rubber is fitted, operators should double-check that it is located correctly and that any pit drainage or automatic pumps are also properly working. For surface-mounted truck scales, there should be adequate clearance between the superstructure and the ground.

Weekly Maintenance Tasks

Weekly truck scale maintenance tasks revolve around checking the weight and load cell assemblies for debris build-up and carefully removing it without damaging the load cell cables. Using a loaded vehicle, operators should carry out weekly weight checks.

To do this, simply compare the vehicle’s weight when weighed at each end of the truck scale with its weight in the center of the platform. If there are any discrepancies of plus or minus 2 indicated, then divisions need to reported to avoid future inaccuracies.

Monthly Maintenance Tasks

Every month you should be checking your truck scales for possible ‘ponding’ of water, debris build-up or other damage to the edge of the foundations as well as along the side and end frames of the platform.

The end-middle-end test should also be performed on a monthly basis with the readings recorded. After performing the test the first time, the truck scale should then be washed to remove any loose debris. After that, the end-middle-end test should then be performed again. The results of this before and after test should be compared and any discrepancies should be reported.

Quarterly Maintenance Tasks

At least twice a year, on a quarterly basis if possible, operators should check for any signs of structural damage to the truck scale. Check the foundations for any significant movement or cracks and any signs of damage.

Don’t forget to check the load cell cables for surface-mounted truck scales. Any and all damages should then be reported to the maintenance service provider. Always use a weighing scale maintenance checklist to keep your scales in perfect working condition.

Regular preventative maintenance plays a huge role in prolonging the life of your weighing scales. Active Scale is the largest service provider for repairs, calibrations and certifications of weigh scales in Ontario having a fleet of 7 heavy test units servicing Ontario and Quebec with over 20 technicians available to solve your weighing problems.

Our qualified technicians are capable of servicing virtually any weighing device in use. We dispatch technicians from our service locations in Brantford, Hamilton, Markham (GTA), Orillia and Ottawa.

Call us toll-free at 1-866-284-2223.