Truck Scales Owners’ Best Practices in the Recycling and Solid Waste Industry

Neglecting your scale can cost you profit in the long term.

In today’s recycling and solid waste industry, uptime is of utmost importance. Most facilities experience long lines at the scale, and so they place a premium on getting trucks in and out quickly. However, have you ever stopped to think about how much you could be losing per truck?

When you placed your scale in service, the state Weights & Measures Department certified that it met the necessary regulatory requirements, and your manufacturer assured you that the scale was capable of holding to accurate tolerances. Unfortunately, external variables and real-world issues can knock your scale out of calibration and cost you a lot of money.

But just how much could it cost me, you ask? Take a look at Figure 1. A simple error of one increment (20 lbs.) can lead to $30,000 in annual product loss. This is a real example and is based on a product with a value of $.05 per pound and a duty cycle of 100 weighments per day.  Imagine your business and the value of your product for a moment. Now is the time to implement the following best practices.

Implement a Calibration and Inspection Agreement

The simplest step you can take is to implement a calibration and inspection agreement with your service provider. Depending on the requirements and type of weighing device, inspection costs can be as low as $500 annually depending on the frequency required to assure accurate weighing and to reduce the risk of loss due to an inaccurate scale. Compared to the potential loss figures, this is a worthwhile investment.

But how often should your scale be inspected? A minimum of two inspections per year is recommended for most scales, but the sort of heavy traffic which recycling and solid waste facilities experience can easily justify more frequent verification, inspection and service. Consult with your scale service company about a schedule that works best for your company.

What should you look for in a service provider? Investigate the longevity of the company. How long have they been in business? Do they know the industry? Do they have solutions for the challenges that your business faces? Another good check point is to compare the services provided among service providers.¹ The number one priority of a calibration and inspection program should be to make sure the scale is accurate by testing with certified weights that are traceable to a Federal standard. The servicing company should be able to produce documentation of the test weights’ traceability. As a value-added component of the inspection, the company should review and inspect the electronic and mechanical components to ensure there is no wear or issues looming that could result in inaccuracies or unexpected downtime. After inspection, be sure the service company provides a written evaluation of the inspection and reviews the condition with you. This is by far the simplest and most economical way to avoid inaccuracies and unexpected downtime.

Keep the Scale Foundation Clean

Recycling and solid waste operations can generate a lot of debris. Be sure to regularly remove the build-up to avoid scale inaccuracies. A pressure sprayer is a fast and easy way to clear debris and keep the scale and foundation free of build-up.  Be sure that your junction boxes, electronics, and load cells are properly rated to withstand pressure washing; otherwise you may cause damage.

Perform Your Own Inspection

Inspect for anomalies. A properly operating scale is dependent on every component working together. Inspect the weighbridge for damage or signs of wear and corrosion:

• Examine the junction boxes inside and out.  Do they show signs of damage, corrosion, or moisture entry?
• Module connection hardware should be intact and not damaged.
• Check the load cells for damage, corrosion and signs of moisture entry into the enclosure and the cable entry gland. Liquid is a good conductor and can easily short your electronics if allowed to enter the sensing element area.
• Some manufacturers feature quick disconnect style load cell cables. Be sure to inspect these connections frequently as they are responsible for a significant number of avoidable failures.
• This is also a good time to inspect the wiring for damage. Exposed conductors cause communication errors when wet and are usually the culprit of erratic performance.
• Your scale’s paint system isn’t just for good looks. It’s a critical barrier against scale corrosion on your weighbridge steel. Be sure to reapply if you expect maximum life from the weighbridge steel.
• If your scale has cover plates, inspect the connection hardware and make sure they are there, functional and are not packed with mud and debris.
• Grease the load cell cups at recommended intervals. Some manufacturers incorporate zerk type fittings allowing grease application without the need to physically separate the load cell components.
• Inspect concrete for signs of failure. Address these issues as soon as possible. Left unchecked, they will only get worse and will cause larger—and more costly—problems.

Make Adjustments

Your weighbridge will expand and contract slightly at different times of the year; this is natural.  This thermal expansion requires attention and readjustment of your checking.  The checking system on your scale keeps the weighbridge in place as it naturally rocks and moves from traffic.  Too small a gap in the checking can cause binding and weighing errors. Too much gap in the checking allows excessive movement, up to and including a scale tipping. Excessive movement adds unnecessary wear to other components, so be sure the checking is properly secure.

Keep Your Scale Grounded

Today’s truck scales use sophisticated electronics to communicate weighment data to the instrument. A securely grounded scale is a basic defense from lightning and power surges. Be sure that the scale is connected to the manufacturer’s specified grounding system and that there are no interruptions in this system. Transient voltage seeks the easiest path to ground. If your scale isn’t grounded through a ground rod connection, it surely is grounded through other components. Disrupting the ground connection shunts power surges to other places, like your load cells or electronics. Damaged electronics will cost you thousands in repairs.

Monitor Your Scale’s Use

You probably don’t have the time to monitor how fast traffic enters and exits the scale.  However, keep in mind that while the scale is designed to slightly move with traffic, abusive and aggressive entrance and exiting of traffic accelerates wear. Again, taxing the scale means more wear and more dollars spent in repairs.

Many scale manufacturers offer accessories to promote traffic discipline while entering and exiting your scale. Traffic signals and guide post kits at the approach and exit can manage traffic flow and truck speed very effectively for a small investment.

Install Accessories Where Necessary

Consider the accessories below, developed from real-world experience, to prevent issues with your truck scale altogether.

• Riser plates:Be very wary of a low-profile scales. Reducing the clearance under the scale gets you two things: one, it takes less debris accumulation to impact the accuracy of a low-profile scale. Secondly, it makes cleaning your scale much more difficult as the underside is impossible to reach.² Riser plates elevate your weighbridge, reducing the risk of debris accumulation and providing clearance for cleaning and inspection.
• Load cell boots: Exposed to debris, weather, moisture and even product that has migrated below the deck, your load cells operate in the worst environment possible. Load cell boots act like a protective glove and prevent debris from interfering with proper load cell operation.
• Steel and EPDM rubber belting: At each end of your scale, there is a small gap between the scale and foundation. This gap is a great place for dirt, debris and product to fall under the scale and accumulate. Installing T-belting along this gap between the scale and foundation wall is a good step to preventing this accumulation.

Implementing Best Practices

Now you may be thinking: “These steps sound great, but I just don’t have the time for my scale to be out of service six times a year.” This is entirely understandable. To keep your inspections frequent without losing too much business to downtime, consider switching to a digital scale. Let’s say a typical scale has eight to 10 load cells. If it’s an analog setup, it could take four to six hours—the bulk of a day—to get your scale calibrated correctly. With a digital system, you are able to see the performance of each individual load cell on the instrument screen. With that ease of access, takes minutes to half an hour for recalibration.³

In the end, how you implement these best practices is up to you. You can partner with a qualified service provider to manage these tasks, or you can go it alone. One thing is certain—neglecting your scale costs you profit.

For more information, call (800) 451-4107 or visit www.fairbanks.com.

Notes

1. Mike Wilkinson, Product Manager at Fairbanks.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.