Truck Scale Calibration

Accurate truck scale calibration is vital to ensure accurate weights and proper performance. Every vehicle scale should be calibrated and tested frequently, especially for obtaining Legal for Trade weights.

Why Do I Need to Calibrate My Truck Scale?

Calibration is important for accuracy, but it also promotes efficient operations, resource management and fair trade practices. Applications requiring scales to be Legal for Trade must provide correct weights so customers aren’t over- or undercharged. Without calibration, scales and vehicles could be overloaded, potentially leading to safety hazards, scale or vehicle damage and regulation violations.

Truck Scale Calibration Process

The majority of the calibration process involves the certified technician testing various parts of the scale to identify discrepancies and verify accuracy.

Weights and Testing

Certified calibration weights are designed to provide accurate results in accordance with strict standards. A truck scale should be calibrated with at least 12.5 percent of its nominal capacity or 25,000 pounds of certified test weights, which verifies that the scale is reading correctly.

Several tests will be performed at different areas of the scale, but it’s essential to see how the scale performs before adjustments begin. A scale technician will move a test cart across scale sections to record initial weight readings.

Corner, load cell and repeatability tests may also be done. Testing each load cell verifies that they function properly and that readings match the loaded value. Corner tests are similar in that they test the load cell, but they also verify that weight is distributed evenly across the scale. A repeatability test will be performed to see if the scale consistently reads the correct number of loaded weights.

Adjustments

After noting areas needing adjustment, the technician will fine-tune the scale at the junction box.

Verification

The cart of weights will be placed on the scale again to check for errors. If errors remain, the technician will repeat any needed adjustments. After correcting all errors, the final test is to weigh a vehicle and ensure the proper weight is displayed on the indicator.

Calibration Schedule

Calibration is often a part of your scale’s routine maintenance plan. Calibration may be needed more frequently depending on the products weighed or the application. Improper calibration can lead to significant issues down the line. When deciding your calibration schedule, consider the following:

Rice Lake Weighing Systems’ SURVIVOR® truck scales

Rice Lake’s SURVIVOR truck scales are rugged and reliable solutions for any vehicle weighing operation, but even the toughest truck scales on Earth need to be calibrated. SURVIVOR truck scales are designed for easy access during calibration and maintenance procedures such as open top load cell pockets, G-Force™ self-checking mounting systems and no bottom plate.

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