Scale Question

Mndriver,

You're right.

We're paid by weight on our loads, that's how I got confused.

 

I have a few brokers we deal with that do it this way also....they have to know we charge more for the heavy stuff than the light but it must just be easier to do it that way. I can't count how many loads where supposed to be 42,000# and 26 pallets but ended up being 12,000# and 16 pallets. Sure makes the return trips a breeze.

 

I have a good example of a rather innacurate freight weight on a BOL. My load is from Protrans International and my bol states 36, 283. My Volvo 780 with full fuel tanks weighs roughly 34500 with an empty 53' van. So my GVW should be roughly 70, 800. But when I scaled, my weight was 72120, meaning the cargo weighs closer to 37,700. Being 1500 off is no biggie when its under 44, 000 lbs. Any more is a bit scary, lol.

 

Did you include the weight of the pallets on the load as well?

 

Unless I have a heavy and light weight when I go into a place, weight on the ticket means little to me.

I always find out a bag weight, like on grass seed, and ask what the count is.

Add 40-50# for each pallet too. At 22 pallets, that's another 1100 lbs to the load weight. A standard 3-stringer pallet is 40#.

 

That's the problem with these Protrans loads. Never sure if the customers gave an accurate weight. My load is essentially a bunch of northeastern ltl shipments bound for El paso cobbled together on our trailer. A big customer for us.

 

In the beginning, don't skimp on scale tickets. Get one as close to the customer and return right away and re-weight ASAP. The customers scale cannot always be trusted, and they are not going to pay an overweight ticket for you.