Have you ever wondered what goes into installing a truck scale?
Putting in a new truck scale may seem like a daunting task, but our experience has allowed us to get this type of installation down to a science. We’ve installed and upgraded hundreds of truck scales around the country. Every application is slightly different and has its challenges, but we’ve used our experience to put together a general guide to show you how it’s done.Step 1: Selecting the Right Scale for Your Application
Not all truck scales are created equal. Vehicle scales can be used for everything from verifying incoming supplies and recording inventory to checking for compliance and determining the price of goods. When selecting a truck scale for your application, it’s important to consider four key factors: intended use, cost of ownership, financial impact, and operating environment.
Each of these factors plays a critical role in determining which type of scale will perform best for your operation. For example, a scale installed in a harsh outdoor environment may require a different design and foundation than one installed indoors or in a mild climate. Likewise, the expected traffic volume, vehicle types, and level of accuracy required can all influence which technology and layout are the best fit.
Because there are so many variables at play, working with a knowledgeable partner can make a major difference in both the success of your investment. A qualified provider will not only explain your options but also ask the right questions about your site, workflow, and growth plans. Their goal should be to help you avoid common missteps like underestimating traffic needs, choosing a foundation that doesn’t match your conditions, or overlooking long term serviceability.
Whether you’re planning a new truck scale installation or upgrading an existing scale, doing it right the first time saves time, money, and frustration.
Step 2: Site Selection and Preparation
Like all construction projects, preparation is the key to creating a sustainable environment for your scale and avoiding headaches down the road. Site preparation may include debris clearing, excavation, and grading, but there’s more to consider than just dirt work.
One of the most important factors is drainage. Water should always flow away from the scale foundation to prevent pooling, corrosion, or frost damage to the foundation and load cells. Poor drainage can lead to costly repairs and shortened equipment life.
Another important consideration is future planning. Does the location allow room for potential growth, such as adding a second scale, building a scale house, or expanding your facility? Thinking ahead during site selection can save time and money later.
You’ll also want to consider traffic flow. Can large trucks easily enter, exit, and align with the scale without disrupting other operations? If you anticipate a high volume of vehicles, is there enough space for trucks to queue without blocking roadways or loading areas?
Proper planning at this stage helps ensure your truck scale is not only installed correctly but positioned for long-term efficiency and minimal disruption.
Step 3: Pouring the Foundation and Approaches
Once your site has been prepared, it’s time to pour the foundation and construct the approaches. This stage is critical to the long-term accuracy and stability of your truck scale. The type of foundation and approach used depends on several factors, including site conditions, scale type, budget, and whether the scale is installed above ground or in a pit.
Types of Foundations
- Full Slab: A flat, reinforced concrete surface that supports the scale above ground. This is one of the most common options due to its simplicity and durability, but it often increases the profile height of the scale, which requires longer ramps.
- Beam Slab: Uses poured concrete beams with open spans between them. This allows for easier access to under-scale components like load cells and wiring.
- Variable Footer: Designed for uneven or unstable terrain, these foundations allow flexibility in the depth and shape of each footing, providing stability in challenging conditions.
- Pit: A fully recessed foundation where the scale sits flush with the surrounding surface. Ideal for tight spaces or when level loading is needed from any direction. Pit foundations eliminate the need for ramps but can be more difficult to clean and maintain. Make sure you have manholes or other ways access under the scale.
- Shallow Open Pit: A partial pit solution that offers easier maintenance access compared to full pit installations while still minimizing the profile height of the scale. This style allows for easier servicing and lower profile heights but typically requires additional handrails, grating, or catwalks to block off the open sides.
Approach and Ramp Considerations
Approaches are the paved or concrete areas leading onto and off of the scale deck. If the scale will be used for buying or selling, these approaches must follow the guidelines established in NIST Handbook 44. These requirements cover dimensions, materials, construction, and slope to ensure legal-for-trade use and safe vehicle access.
Approach length and material: Approaches must be at least as wide as the scale deck and made of durable, stable material (typically concrete or asphalt).
Level and slope: The approaches must be level and cannot slope toward the scale in a way that would affect performance or allow water pooling.
Getting this step right ensures long-term performance, reduces maintenance, and helps your system remain compliant with weights and measures regulations.
Step 4: Preparing for the Load Cells
(Wiring and Baseplates)
Although the load cells are not installed until later in the process, it is often safer and faster to prepare for them before the scale deck is lowered into place. This step may vary depending on the scale’s design, but it usually includes positioning baseplates and installing wiring/conduits runs. Once the baseplates are set, our techs install a specialized locating tool. These tools help align the baseplates to the scale deck as it is lowered into place without the risk of damaging the load cells.
Step 5: Scale Deck Placement and Alignment
It’s no surprise that truck scales are large, heavy pieces of equipment. Setting them in place requires a skilled boom operator to carefully maneuver each scale module into position. As each module is lowered, a technician adjusts the baseplates and specialized locating tools to ensure perfect alignment with the scale deck.
Proper alignment is critical. Even a slight misalignment can lead to inaccurate weighments or damage to the load cells. Taking the time to get this step right protects your equipment and ensures long-term accuracy.
Step 6: Securing the Baseplates
Once the scale deck is properly aligned, the next step is to secure the baseplates to the foundation. These baseplates serve as the mounting points for the load cells and play a critical role in ensuring consistent, repeatable weighing. Technicians anchor each baseplate in place according to the manufacturer’s specifications to ensure structural stability.
Step 7: Installing the Load Cells
With the baseplates secured and aligned, technicians begin installing the load cells. The locating tools used during alignment are carefully removed and replaced with load cells, one by one. Each load cell is seated, wired, and checked for proper orientation and fit. The wiring configuration may vary depending on cell type (analog vs digital) and manufacture, so it’s critical to have trained technicians complete this step. Improperly installed or damaged load cells can lead to inaccurate readings or long-term failure.
Step 8: Pouring the Deck
(For Concrete Deck Truck Scales)
Although it is possible to pour the concrete deck prior to setting the scale deck, we generally recommend the deck is poured after the scale has been aligned and load cells are installed. This ensures the deck is set properly and helps prevent cracking or shifting that could occur if poured beforehand. The concrete must be cured fully before moving on to calibration and final checks. Rebar or wire mesh is typically used to reinforce the deck and provide additional durability.
Step 9: Testing and Calibrating the Scale
Once the truck scale installation is complete and any concrete has cured, the scale undergoes a full system check. This includes electrical verification, diagnostic testing, and a certified calibration using known test weights. Calibration ensures the scale meets industry standards and complies with any applicable legal-for-trade requirements. If the scale is legal-for-trade, it must meet strict accuracy and repeatability standards outlined in NIST Handbook 44. Individual scale partners may also provide extra services during this phase. At System Scale we also perform a thorough health check to confirm the scale is ready for dependable, day-to-day use.
Step 10: Ready for Use
With installation and calibration complete, your truck scale is officially ready for operation. From weighing raw materials to tracking outbound loads, your scale will be a key part of your daily workflow. With proper upkeep and preventive maintenance, it will serve your business reliably for years to come.
Want to Learn More?
Partnering with an experianced team matters. Every truck scale installation is unique and small mistakes can have long-term consequences. An experienced scale provider like System Scale does more than sell equipment. We help you:- Understand the pros and cons of different scale types and foundations
- Navigate compliance and permitting
- Match your setup to your workflow and industry demands
- Plan for serviceability and long-term performance
