How much do different truck scale solutions cost?

Scaling trucks has been a part of trucking since the mid-20th century, with weight restrictions going back to the very beginning of the industry before scales existed that could weigh an entire truck. Damage to roads and bridges has always been a concern. Since nobody wants to pay more taxes than necessary, trucks and their loads will continue to be restricted.

Making sure that your truck is always properly loaded can a lot of positive effects. It can make load securement easier, help prevent a truck rollover accident, and save you lots of money in diesel and tires.

Nowadays there are a lot of ways to weigh a truck, all of which come with different cost, accuracy, installation needs and upkeep. Here are a few of the most common truck scaling solutions on the market.

Pressure gauges for determining if overloaded

One of the lowest cost ways of get your truck's weight is with a pressure gauge connected to the air suspension. This method is a quick way to determining if you are overloaded on an axle group. If you are a math savvy trucker you can use pressure gauges to estimate your truck weight.

Typically, when a truck's axle is maxed out you can note the pressure and use that reading as a reference for future loads. This is a great way to find out if you need to adjust an axle or shift load weights before getting on the road.

This is a great solution for owner/operators who use the same truck and trailer every day and just need to know that they are inside the legal weight limits.

Onboard truck scales for air suspensions

If you need a truck scale solution that is a little more accurate and can work for multiple drivers in drop-and-hook applications, then you will want to consider Bluetooth-enabled onboard truck scales for air suspensions.

These types of scales typically read out in actual pounds on an analog or digital display or in an application running on a phone. Phone apps can allow users to connect to multiple configurations of trucks and trailers easily.

With a proper calibration process these types of truck scales can also provide steer axle weights even if the steer axle rides on springs.

Click to try the BIT Air Scales Savings Calculator

Onboard truck scales for spring suspensions

If you have an older fleet that only has spring suspensions then you will want to look at a more involved onboard scaling solution. Spring suspensions will require strain gauges to be installed on the springs to measure the flex of the metal as it goes under a load.

These truck scales are highly accurate but require a professional to install and service if there are problems. This may require you to take some assets out of service to get worked on.

Portable truck axle scales

Portable axle scales are growing in popularity. DOT is known to use portable axle scales to weigh trucks at roadside when there is not a weigh station nearby.

Portable axle scales can also be used by drivers who might be 50+ miles away from an in-ground scale and haul commodities that can easily overload trucks. These scales lay flat on the ground and the truck can drive on top of them to see what the axle weighs. Adding all of the axle weights together will give the gross weight of the load.

This solution can be a little tedious to work with and can take several minutes to get the total weight of the load.

In-ground truck weight scales

In-ground truck scales are the most accurate and long-lasting type of truck scales. These units can be used for trade where the carrier or driver gets paid by weight. This truck scaling solution is one of the most popular in many industries.

If your operation loads out of the same location and has a large volume to traffic such as: farm fields, coal mines, quarries, and other bulk commodities this is an ideal solution for scaling.

Installation of this type of truck scaling solution requires concrete pads to be poured and professionals to install, maintain and calibrate.

Pay per use truck scales

Pay per use truck scales are the most popular way to scale a truck today. It requires nothing from the driver other than pulling onto the scale to get their weight. These scales can provide steer, drive, trailer and gross weights so drivers can see if they are legal or need to move axles around.

These scales are professionally calibrated and maintained by the owner who makes sure they are always working. This takes any burden off of a driver or owner/operator who wants to know what they weigh without paying for their own truck scale solution.

If you need to scale a few times per month this is a great solution for knowing if you are legal. However, if you need to scale loads 2-3 times per week or every load you pick up the cost can start to run away. This can add up to over $1,300/year per truck.