Bulk-End Dump, Hoppers, Belly Dumps, Scales/Gauges

I pull a Tri-Axle belly and I don't honestly even know where at it pulls the pressure reading from (obviously truck side as trailer is all leaf spring) but I get within 1,000 (usually closer to 500#) evertime on a gauge that reads in 10's. Although I would have ZERO guess what any actually weight is lower than my max. I suppose it helps that the weight can really only be put one place in the box.

 

Eaton18,

You may have seen another post I've done about on-board digital scales. If not its titled "On-Board digital scales". Theres a lot of good info in there with the pro's and con's to scales. I'm not going to say who I work for but I'll tell you about the scales and you can decide for yourself whatever you want.

I've talked to 100's and 100's of truckers over the last 2 months(yes i'm still very new to the industry and DO NOT presume to know everything). I've gotten both sides of the coin. I've spoke with people that can get within 100lbs with an air gauge and then i've talk to people that are lucky if they get within 2000lbs with their air gauges. Fact of the matter is it has a lot to do with experience in using that gauge and external factors. Are you on an angle, altitude changes, temp changes, mechanical maintenance. Air gauges are built with internal margain for error and are not perfect. So are digital scales. They're only as good as they're used, installed, and calibrated.

The scales I sell are accurate within 100-300 pounds per axle group but our AVERAGE customer says its accurate within 100-300 lbs of gross weight. There are people that swear by digital scales and there are people that say they are totally worthless and have zero need for them.

Its just like anything else they're good for certain things but not perfect for others. Keep in mind that if you're using a digital system that you have to physcially callibrate one big factor in accuracy is the quality and maintenance of your HCV. Most, if not all, systems will rely on this to be accurate. If you have a very wide deadband with your HCV then i can promise you that your displayed weight accuracy is going to be different often.

On-board digital scales can and will be more accurate than air-gauges. They also show you more information that you absolutely CAN NOT get with an air gauge. This is not to say people can't be accurate with air gauges because they can. I have a customer right now that is usually within 100 lbs on drive and trailer. But still is buying scales because he doesnt know what his gross is and for 700 bucks its worth knowing steer, drive, trailer, GVW, and net payload.

Hope this helps at least a little. GL

 

i run a w900 with a hopper and sometimes a framed dump. loading the hopper i can get within a 100-500 lb weight. all i do is load the front hopper till air guage is around 50psi then i load the rear until that gets to 60psi on the trailer guage. with it being at 60 the trailer n truck gauges read 60 both and im usually under 80,000. now with dump trailer i load to bout 60 n go check but that usually fairly close to. it all depends like everyone said on how heavy the material ur loading is and if you on level ground.I know when my cousin drove otr dump his boss put a air gauge on his dump n he usually got within couple hundred lbs hope this helps