Question about portable scales

I don't calibrate the scales. I just make sure they are zeroed. They get calibrated by another party to make sure they are weighing properly.

 

That is used if you do not have enough scales to do the entire vehicle. For instance if I only have 2 scales. I'd start with the steer (put scale in front of each steer tire), then put the plywood boards on the other tires. That way the vehicle is on the same plane, like you said so that the weight is distributed evenly.

 

In NC, we usually only carried 2 Sets (4) of "PAT"scales and depending on the configuration, I started with the steering axle using 2 scales , then axle 2-3 with all 4 scales, same with axles 4-5. I always knocked off the "change" ie: scale reads 7680 I recorded 7600. We had different policies for different configurations of vehicles , for example a 3 axle vehicle was "rolled" started on the right side using 3 scales then the left side etc.

I was always on relatively flat roads (no hills here), and we didn't use boards

In NC, If the driver had a problem with the weights with the portables they could request a reweigh at a permanent scale as long as the scales were certified and close by, However if we went to a permanent scale we did not knock off any change. So the driver lost that weight..

In all my years of weighing, I was always confident that I under weighed.

Now, since I have retired and occasionally drive, I see all kinds of things at grain scales (pry bars used , steering axle off the scales,etc) It makes me glad I never looked at weigh tickets.

 

Okay, maybe that's what he was doing. I watched him turn a knob. Poor choice of words Thanks.

 

We have portables we use at times on new products we have not hauled before and no scales near by.

We will make sure we are on hard level ground.
Then flex the scales.
That meaning we pull the steers on and then pull off and make sure they go back to zero.
If not we turn the know to zero.
When weighing on gravel lots we use plywood and set the portables on the plywood.
The sheets are 4 ' long and 2' wide.

Even on level ground one side might weigh more than the other.

 

Every time that I can think of I have been weighed on a set of portables, my actual weight was more. Once my gross was almost 3,000 # more than what the portables read. I always used to double check after getting a ticket, but now just go with whatever the office says it is.And tell him 'thank you".
We have a rather small " FEMALE DIESEL-BEAR" around home who checks me from time to time. She struggles getting those scales in and out of her trunk, and I always offer to help her lift them. She refuses my assistance, says policy is only they are allowed to touch the scales.
Oh well, I tried to be nice and help.

 

I don't let anyone touch mine either. That way when I break them it was my fault. I've seen driver's drop one of the fellas I work with. The needle broke and had to have it sent back for repairs. Kinda hard to explain, this driver was helping me and dropped it.

 

Does your state use the MD500's ?

 

No. Who makes those?

 

I got stopped at 3:30 one morning by a MDOT officer who after he weighed the whole truck said "Driver, I added the weights up three times and you are not overweight but, it sure looks like you have alot of wood on your truck. That is why I stopped you. Have a good day" He showed me his math (on paper) and he wasnt carrying the one to the next column. Instead of being 95,000 like he had added up I was 105,000. Of course I did not point out his error but I wonder if he ever did add that up with a calculator.