Do not set your brakes while on the scale. This might seem like common sense to some but it deserves mentioning. We have a driver who never could get satisfactory weights on his truck even though he was hauling the same loads the rest of us were. During a conversation today it dawned on me that he was setting his brakes while on the scale.
This is applicable to class A units with air brakes where setting the brakes applies brake to all axles. When brakes are applied to more than one axle it causes binding between the scale pads giving an inaccurate weight. Setting a parking brake on just one axle doesn't introduce the same problem. So, a pickup pulling a fifth wheel can set the brake and it is likely not to have a negative effect.
Terry and Jo said
04:45 PM Apr 3, 2015
Glad you brought that up, Mark. I knew of it, but had never thought to mention it myself.
Terry
Alie and Jims Carrilite said
07:00 PM Apr 3, 2015
I will have to go re-weigh and see if there is a discrepancy on the truck. I do know that I set the parking (yellow knob) so I could lean out the window enough to push the call button at a CAT scale.
MarkS said
07:54 PM Apr 3, 2015
Jim, when the guy I mentioned in the previous post reweighed without setting the brake it dropped his steer axle weight from over 13000 to about 11000. Illegal to legal, although he was never illegal. He said his trailer weight didn't change much so the bind was between the steers and drives.
For several weeks he has had problems with weight. Not always were his problems technique. I kept a copy of his weight slip for 99,340 pounds. Since the max is 80,000 we explained that we aren't the post office... If it fits, it doesn't necessarily ship. Anyway, today when he told me what his axle weights were I explained that there was no way he could have those axle weights. It was physically impossible. That's when I asked if he was weighing with his brakes set. And the rest is history.
MarkS said
08:05 PM Apr 3, 2015
Something else I just thought of. Most cat scales have plenty of room to one side or the other to get a weight on each wheel. First weight it normally. Pay your 10.50 then reweigh placing only the left or right side on the scale pads. The reweigh is 2.50 I think. Then do the math. Subtract the one side weights from the total weights and you have your left and right weights.
Bill and Linda said
07:49 AM Apr 4, 2015
Mark:
The CAT scales don’t have this issue I’ll mention below because you can call the weight desk and then they initiate weighing.
However, I’ve been on scales that are “automatic.” No operator.You pull on and get a light – they weight.But sometimes they weigh too soon.I got a reading once – had to go around and get them to do it again – that was impossible and it was important I get this first one correct.I know the rig (5er with pickup) was “rocking” a bit when they took it according to the lights as I applied the brakes to stop and was getting them released for the weighing.
You’ve got a lot more recent experience and may comment.But I really prefer CAT scales as they allow you to get the rig “settled” so to speak before they take a weight and have the brakes off or at least the truck in "park" which just locks the drive wheels.
MarkS said
09:13 AM Apr 4, 2015
Bill, Good point. Any good scale will wait till the truck settles. Most truck stop scales, especially CAT, don't weigh you until after you press the call button. Typically, you don't press the call button till you're ready to be weighed.
Do not set your brakes while on the scale. This might seem like common sense to some but it deserves mentioning. We have a driver who never could get satisfactory weights on his truck even though he was hauling the same loads the rest of us were. During a conversation today it dawned on me that he was setting his brakes while on the scale.
This is applicable to class A units with air brakes where setting the brakes applies brake to all axles. When brakes are applied to more than one axle it causes binding between the scale pads giving an inaccurate weight. Setting a parking brake on just one axle doesn't introduce the same problem. So, a pickup pulling a fifth wheel can set the brake and it is likely not to have a negative effect.
Glad you brought that up, Mark. I knew of it, but had never thought to mention it myself.
Terry
For several weeks he has had problems with weight. Not always were his problems technique. I kept a copy of his weight slip for 99,340 pounds. Since the max is 80,000 we explained that we aren't the post office... If it fits, it doesn't necessarily ship. Anyway, today when he told me what his axle weights were I explained that there was no way he could have those axle weights. It was physically impossible. That's when I asked if he was weighing with his brakes set. And the rest is history.
Mark:
The CAT scales don’t have this issue I’ll mention below because you can call the weight desk and then they initiate weighing.
However, I’ve been on scales that are “automatic.” No operator. You pull on and get a light – they weight. But sometimes they weigh too soon. I got a reading once – had to go around and get them to do it again – that was impossible and it was important I get this first one correct. I know the rig (5er with pickup) was “rocking” a bit when they took it according to the lights as I applied the brakes to stop and was getting them released for the weighing.
You’ve got a lot more recent experience and may comment. But I really prefer CAT scales as they allow you to get the rig “settled” so to speak before they take a weight and have the brakes off or at least the truck in "park" which just locks the drive wheels.