Enhancing Truck Scale Durability with an Orthotropic Ribs

Orthotropic Scale Deck Improves Truck Scale Reliability

One of our partners in the asphalt industry was operating a truck scale that had been installed years earlier by another provider. After eleven years of use, the deck began developing recurring cracks that required repeated welding and patching. The I-beam design struggled to keep up with the heavy truck traffic and daily volume of their operation. The constant repairs created downtime and raised concerns about the scale’s ability to maintain long-term performance under continuous use. To compound the issue, the scale used an analog system with traditional junction boxes. When adjustments were needed after a repair, technicians had to move between the indicator and the junction box to make changes. This added extra time to routine service and made troubleshooting slower.

To support a more dependable and maintenance-friendly solution, the System Scale team recommended a Mettler Toledo truck scale with an orthotropic rib deck and PDX Digital PowerCells. This design uses a series of steel ribs to distribute load forces across the entire deck surface, similar to how modern bridge structures handle repeated traffic cycles. It offers stronger long-term fatigue resistance and helps the deck maintain its integrity under heavy, repetitive use. The PDX PowerCells eliminate junction boxes entirely and allow all adjustments and calibrations to happen at the terminal, which speeds up service and helps identify issues quickly through onboard diagnostics.

After installing the new scale, our partner saw immediate improvements in reliability and uptime. The new deck has shown no signs of stress or cracking under daily use, and PDX technology has reduced duration of routine service calls and preventative maintenance work. The performance gains were strong enough that the partner has since replaced several additional scales with similar configuration.

The upgraded truck scale now provides a durable, long-lasting solution that supports high-volume operations, reduces downtime, and performs consistently under demanding conditions.