Throughout your time travelling on the road you have no doubt seen the familiar blinking orange lights with the sign “Weigh Station. All Trucks Must Stop When Lights Are Flashing.” Weigh stations are set up all along highways to allow cargo-carrying semi-trucks to check their overall weight.
Besides adhering to federal weight regulations there are various reasons why commercial trucks should absolutely be weighed, creating a critical need for truck scales in general.
1. Highway Safety
One of the most important reasons that trucks need to be weighed is for safety. The highways we travel across the country have certain structural limitations and one of those main limitations is weight. These roads have a maximum weight they can handle, and the only vehicles that can come remotely close to those limits are cargo vehicles such as semis.
Although weight limits vary by province, if a truck is heavier than the restrictions for the road on which they are travelling, it can cause significant damage and safety concerns over time.
The weight limit of a road is usually decided on by several factors including the weight limit of the weakest structural section of that highway. Weaker spots could be bridges or overpasses, so while the roads can handle more weight, the bridge weight capacity may vary.
Structural road safety is not the only cause for weighing trucks, but also vehicular safety. Cargo trucks are required by law to maintain a load that is within the specified capacities of the truck they are operating.
If the truck is overloaded, it presents a danger to both the operator and the other drivers on the road. If a truck has too much weight, it cannot maneuver quickly making it difficult to control going downhill and needing much more space to come to a complete stop.
2. Taxes
Another reason trucks must be weighed is to calculate taxes on the truck. Carriers pay thousands of dollars in taxes to put that much stress on the roads, and it is calculated by their load weight. These taxes help maintain the roads and bridges.
Additionally, if a vehicle is carrying more than the weight restriction, they must split their load or apply for an overweight exception permit at the station before continuing. This is why it is important for carriers to know their weights prior to sending out to avoid any delays or accidents.
3. Profitability
At least for business owners, perhaps the most important need for truck scales is profitability. The value of many goods is largely dependent on weight. Operations managers must calculate the weight of every load shipped and received in an accurate manner to ensure fair trade as well as decrease costs and increase profit.
Over a period of time, an inaccurate weight measurement system can cost a company thousands of dollars.
Between concrete decks, portable truck scales, digital scales and more, there are a variety of systems out there that can be used to weigh trucks. Each one has its various applications depending on weight limits and whether or not it is a permanent or temporary installation.
Weighing trucks is important for the safety of both the operator as well as the others on the road and for business purposes. If you’re looking for a truck scale contact Active Scale today for expert advice on which system is right for your business.
