The Ins and Outs of Truck and Heavy Duty Weight Scales
Unlike cars, trucks and vans for personal use, heavy commercial vehicles transporting goods across the province need to be weighed before they can operate safely on the roads and highways in Alberta. But weighing heavy trucks doesn’t just keep drivers and motorists safe; it can also help you save money.
How trucks are weighed
Heavy trucks and tractor-trailers are weighed by driving the truck over a scale that measures the weight of the truck and the load it’s carrying. There are a few different types of weight scales including:
Why weighing your truck is so important
There are a number of safety considerations that make weighing your loads essential. For example, an overweight truck could lead to:
- Poor manoeuvrability: Excess weight can make it more difficult to steer the truck and it won’t handle turns as well as a truck operating within its weight limit.
- Inadequate braking capacity: The extra weight puts pressure on the brakes and you’ll have a harder time, and require a greater distance, to bring your vehicle to a complete stop.
- Tire damage: Tires under too much weight can burst, putting the life of your driver and other motorists on the road at risk.
- Engine strain: Carrying a load beyond the advised limit can strain the engine and take years off your truck’s life.
- Road damage: All roads and highways in Canada have recommended weight limits and failure to observe these limits can cause major damage to the pavement. This is even more of a safety concern if you’ll be crossing over bridges on your route.
Not only can failure to weigh your truck properly be a major safety concern, it can also lead to hefty tickets and fines at provincial weight scales throughout Alberta.
Truck scales can help you save money
Well maintained weight scales can help you keep your trucks within the proper weight limit and save you thousands of dollars in:
- Fuel costs
- Lost product
- Maintenance costs
- Tickets and fines
Scale maintenance
It’s true that truck scales can save you money while also keeping your drivers and other motorists safe but only if they’re working correctly.
With Ancoma Scales you can track and store information with the latest truck scale data management software, schedule routine calibrations and repairs, or choose a new scale from our wide selection of inventory. We’ve been proudly serving Alberta for more than 40 years and we want you to benefit from our experience. To learn more about our products and services, contact us today.