If the scale isn't perfectly level, you're not getting an accurate weight either. Usually, I pull on the scale, put it in neutral and wait till the truck stops moving.
Don't set your brakes!!!
Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Catman131, Feb 14, 2017.
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And furthermore, if your truck will easily roll one direction or the other, as you try and axle scale, (such as on some private scales they use to weigh short raw materials truck's gross) then you're individual weights are not going to be all that accurate and potentially off considerably if any incline hang-off is considerable -
My advice is to set trailer brakes only, setting tractor brakes probably wont make much difference but setting the tractor brakes mean steer tires are on one platform and drivers are on another, so there is still a chance those 2 platforms wont find center because the scale motion is limited by the brakes being set, your rear tandems are on their own platform, so all 3 platforms will move independent and return to center. Not to get long winded here....but I'm sure all drivers know by feel that a truck scale moves around quit a bit when pulling on and off. sometimes hearing a bang or two, scales are ''self centering''and need to ''relax'' and move freely to find its center. The banging noise are the scale decks hitting the checking blocks that keep it from moving too far. The entire scale needs to be centered to give an accurate weight.
VIDEODROME Thanks this. -
I've seen as much as 700 lbs come back onto the drives [from a trailer that dumps air bags upon removing trailer supply] when the trailer bags are reinflated and the trailer level comes back up that 2-3 inches or so.
If the trailer doesn't automatically dump the bags, it's probably not so much an issue pulling the red button but I still don't see an issue setting tractor brakes and letting the trailer remain free to roll. -
Scale is suppose to be level. Tanker drivers will get bad reading. I never set the brakes unless it will roll
wis bang Thanks this. -
Regardless, I never set the brakes either.CasanovaCruiser Thanks this. -
One stop in Tenafly, NJ had a huge sign...chock your truck, the scale is not level...
Another place had a short scale and made us drop the trailer. We would wait 5 - 10 minutes for the scale to stop moving. -
I never set the trailer brakes on the scale, only the tractor brakes. Some trailers when you set the brakes will also dump the suspension changing the load dynamics.
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The tractors drives and steers being on different platforms wouldn't matter...set the tractor brake and only the brakes on the drives are applied. No parking brake on steer axles, at least not in any truck I've driven.
The platforms wouldn't bind.
Some scales are a single platform. Set whatever brakes you want. Won't matter there lol
Spread axles - if both axles aren't on the same platform never set your trailer brake. Apparently some van drivers do that...not4hire Thanks this. -
I stand corrected, setting tractor brakes will not set steer brakes, setting tractor brakes on scale wont affect weights. oops
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