How Much Do Truck Scales Cost?

HOW MUCH DOES A TRUCK SCALE COST?

As you consider the purchase of a new truck scale, price is often-times one of the first considerations.  As with many large equipment purchases there are many models and options which will impact the cost. So, how much do truck scales cost? The short answer to how much does a truck scale cost is $45,000 - $100,000.

First, let’s start with the initial purchase price of the truck scale.  Generally, truck scales are sold by independent scale dealers spread across the country. Most truck scale dealers will represent a number of different scale manufacturer brands.  Some common brands you will hear about: Rice Lake, Cardinal, B-Tek, Mettler Toledo, Emery Winslow, Fairbanks, Thurman, etc.  Your scale dealer can help guide you to the brand which will best fit your budget and application. Checkout this blog post when considering steel deck vs concrete deck truck scales.

PRICES FOR NEW TRUCK SCALES:

The standard truck scale system in the industry is an above ground electronic 70ft long & 11ft wide steel deck.  We will use that as the basis for pricing.  We will also focus more on electronic scales vs hydrauli . There are a lot of things to consider when pricing your scale.

There are two main packages you can choose from; a basic package or a turnkey package:

1. BASIC TRUCK SCALE INSTALLATION:

Equipment: This will include the truck scale weigh bridges, load cells, basic indicator, printer, and any other accessories you order such as a remote display. 

Foundation: This will not include the truck scale foundation.  You will need to coordinate for forming and pouring the concrete foundation.  The truck scale manufacturer will provide foundation drawings for you to use.  This will save you on cost.  The downside is that pouring foundations for truck scales can be difficult and requires it to be within ¼” per the drawings.  Bottom-line, ensure your concrete contractor is high-quality.  Pouring a truck scale foundation is more technical than just pouring a slab for a house or garage. To learn more details on truck scale foundation types checkout this blog post on build timelines.

Installation: This will include setting the truck scale on the foundation with a crane after it arrives via flatbed truck.  It also includes anchoring the truck scale, running all wiring, installing all load cells, and calibrating the scale. Finally, the scale service company will complete state weights & measures placed into service paperwork. To learn more details on the installation checkout this blog post.

Truck Scale With Basic Installation Average Cost: $55,000 - $80,000

2. TURNKEY TRUCK SCALE INSTALLATION:

Equipment: This will include the truck scale weigh bridges, electronic load cells or analog), basic indicator (stainless steel or washdown), printer, junction box, and any other accessories you order such as a remote display.

Foundation: This will include the truck scale foundation.  Included is basic site preparation, digging of piers, along with layout of wash-out slab.  The concrete is normally poured over 2 days.  One item to note is whether to add concrete ramps to your project or not, these can add over $10,000 in additional cost but are often necessary. Keep in mind that there are regulations on the steepness of the ramps; these rules are normally set by each state weights & measures department.

Installation: This will include setting the scale on the foundation with a crane after it arrives via flatbed truck.  Includes anchoring the scale, running all wiring, installing all load cells, and calibrating the scale. Completing state weights & measures placed into service paperwork.

Truck Scale With Turn-key Installation Average Cost: $95,000 - $115,000

To see what truck scales American Scale offer click here.

Steel Surcharges
As of early 2021, many truck scale manufacturers are implementing steel surcharges on their truck scales. This is due to surging steel pricing across the county as the pandemic has waned. These surcharges range from 5% up 15% depending on the specific manufacturer. This can add thousands to your truck scale project. A concrete deck truck scale may save some money as they contain less steel. However, keep in mind the scale decks often require rebar and the price for rebar has also increased dramatically. UPDATE: As of early 2022, steel surcharges continue to increase with many topping 25%. In addition, deliver times after ordering a truck scale are reaching up to 40 weeks.

Freight
The prices above do not include the freight cost to ship the scale to your location.  There is significant variability in freight pricing based on your location in relation to the scale manufacturer’s factory.  Also if the scale is 12 ft or wider it will often require escort cars the entire trip which increases the cost.  Some scale companies will quote fixed cost freight but most will provide an estimated freight cost range given the trucking spot rates change by the day.
Truck Scale Freight Average Cost: $2,500 - $4,500

Truck Scale Add-ons / Options:

There are number of truck scale accessories or options that you may need or be required to purchase. For example if you operate a truck scale in a location that is under the Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) jurisdiction then you must have double-pipe guide rails on your truck scale, period. Or in most states the requirement is that for legal for trade truck scales you must have a scoreboard or remote display that a truck driver can see from inside their truck. To learn more about when a remote display is required checkout this blog post.

Other Considerations

Also you need to consider whether your scale will require connectivity to a network or computer system. You need to ensure your scale indicator has the necessary output built in to send the data whether ethernet, fiber optic, USB, serial, etc. We have a scale accessories page that can help you find what you need.

Bottom-line, make sure account for these additional options when computing the price for your new truck scale. During the lifespan of your scale ownership you will find that you may need certain accessories to add a level of ease added to your operation. These options are where you should lean on your scale dealer to assist as they have years of experience.

NOTE:
When considering the purchase price of a truck scale project, you need to also understand the long term costs associated with the scale. Understanding the weighing applications that will be used will definitely help you narrow down cost. These range from warranties, truck scale calibration costs, and general maintenance that will be required, to just wanting to know the differences between truck scales. Your scale dealer is your best source of information on these items. Be sure to ceck out our post about issues that can occur with truck scales. To learn more about truck scale warranties, check out The Guide To Truck Scale Warranties. Our Common problems with truck scales is a good article to look into as well.

The Importance Of Truck Scale Software

So you have your new truck scale and now you need all that data it is collecting. Collecting data is good to help keep track of your weight measurements throughout the duration of your work day. Your truck scale is producing data constantly.  Depending on what you plan to use your data for will guide you towards a truck scale software package best suited for your needs.  Below are some common questions and answers that will assist you in that selection process.  

So What is truck scale software?

When we say truck scale software what do we mean?  In this case we mean software that performs one of or more of the following functions> scale ticketing, scale transaction data storage, dispatching, inventory management, or other similar items.  

As you can see "truck scale software" has a lot of meanings depending on who you ask.

What type of software is out there?

There tends to be two major buckets of software. First is truck scale software designed specifically for a certain industry such as solid waste, aggregates, or agriculture.  Examples of these would be WasteWorks, Command Alkon, and Trux.  Second is truck scale software that is generally industry agnostic.  Examples of these would be ScaleSoft, OnTrak, ScaleIt, Truck Plus, etc.

Who Makes the software?

Truck scale software is designed and owned by two major groups.  First are the truck scale manufacturers such as B-Tek, Rice Lake, Mettler Toledo, Cardinal, etc.  Each truck scale manufacturer has their own proprietary software packages.  Some of these software packages come with the scale indicators they sell while others are standalone and can operate independently.  The second group are independent software & technology companies that just make software.  Meaning they are not manufacturing physical truck scales like the first group.  Oftentimes these are smaller companies that have more software programming expertise but less "scale" knowledge.

How do I connect my scale to this software?

After you have selected your truck software you will need to connect your physical truck scale to the software.  This is accomplished through a range of communication options.  The most basic and still  prevalent is serial data being sent from the scale indicator on your truck scale to a PC / Laptop running the software.  Other options include ethernet, wireless, and more advanced protocols like TCP/IP.  Once the truck scale is connected to the computer the weight data can start to flow to the software.  Connecting your truck scale to the software is a task best suited for your scale service company.

What can the software do for me?

This is a tough question. This entirely depends on what you are looking to do with your weigh operation. The answer is pretty open-ended depending on what software you selected.  From a basic perspective all the software will offer:

Scale ticketing.  This is the process of weighing trucks in and out and gathering required data to produce a scale ticket.  Think of the scale ticket as a single transaction.  The ticket can be digital, a physical paperticket, or both.  This ticket is then often provided to the driver of the truck along with the company operating the truck scale.

Transaction Data Logging.  This is the process of capturing all the scale tickets that were run on a day.  These tickets are then stored on a database either locally or in the cloud.  From there all the scale data is accessible for reporting purposes, financial records, etc.  

Transaction Reporting.  This is the process of data visualization, reporting, and transmission.  Software is configurable to email daily or monthly transaction reports or to provide batches of data to ERP systems such as Oracle, SAP, or MS Dynamics.  

What else can the software do for me?

Some of the other functionality includes invoicing, inventory management, point of sale payment processing, camera integration, RFID tag integration, etc.  Bottomline, there is a wide range of software features out there.  

Where do you buy the software from?

It depends.  If you selected a software package offered by a scale manufacturer such as ScaleSoft by B-Tek or OnTrak by Rice Lake then your scale service company is who you will buy the software from.  On the other hand, if you went with an independent software such as WasteWork or ScaleIt then you will purchase it directly from them.

How much does truck scale software cost?

Not surprisingly, there is a wide range of price points for truck scale software. Whether you go for a basic software package or complex package with impact cost significantly.  When it comes to pricing some software packages are charged by the month using a contractual obligation while other packages just have a one-time upfront fee.  For reference, a basic software package that has a one-time upfront fee is in the $2,500 - $5,000 range.  For a truck scale software package that is charged monthly expect to pay $100 - $500 per month.  

If you are purchasing a new truck scale, when should you start considering software?

The short-answer is from the beginning.  You want to ensure the truck scale hardware you are purchasing is going to work well with the software you are contemplating.   Also the more you integrate your truck scale software requirements early into the buying process the less likely you will end up with a software package that doesn't meet your needs.  Two groups to reachout to learn more about truck scale software; one your local scale dealer, two any companies in your same industry running software.  Your scale service company will have had experience with a wide-range of software packages.  They can provide candid advice on which direction you might want to go.  Second, talk to other folks in your industry who are running truck scale software and get their feedback.  Oftentimes, they are a great resource since they understand your industry specifics better than the scale service company.

So what are some of the truck scale software packages out there?

Below is a list of some of the truck scale software packages that are available on the market:

Scale Manufacturer Specific

ScaleSoft

Ontrak

Win VRS

DataBridge

Industry Specific:

Command Alkon

WasteWorks

ScaleIt

MyTruckScales

What Size Truck Scale Should I Buy?

One of the first questions truck scale buyers often ask about is the size of the truck scale. When it comes to the size of a truck scale there are two dimensions to consider; length and width. The length of the scale is the longer portion of the scale and runs parallel if you were to drive down the truck scale platform. The width is the shorter length and runs perpendicular to the direction you would drive. Let’s look at each dimension separately as they each have specific considerations.

Truck Scale Length:

The length of a truck scale is vital to ensure accurate weighments. This is because you need to make sure the entire vehicle or truck fits onto the scale. For example, if you have a 50 ft scale but the tractor-trailer you are weighing is 60 ft long it would not work. You could split weigh the truck; however, these weighments are not fully accurate nor Legal-For-Trade. So, a good starting point is to know what length the longest truck you would weigh is. Then make sure you buy a scale at least the length. Another scenario to consider is if you will be loading or filling trucks while they are on the scale. For example, at an asphalt plant. For these one needs to consider where the silos that are filling the trucks are placed. You may only be filling 35ft dump trucks but if you have 5 silos you are loading from you may need an 80 ft or 100 ft truck scale.

The standard length in the industry for a truck scale is 70 ft. Some manufacturers offer 72 ft scales as a competitive advantage. A 70 ft scale will work for 75% of weighing applications and projects. If you are not sure what length you need a great start place is a 70 ft scale.

Truck Scale Width:

The width of a truck scale is often less discussed than the length. Although less discussed, the width is still vital to your truck scale purchase. The width of the scale is important for two factors 1) safety 2) wide vehicles. In terms of safety, the wider the better. Too often we see truck drivers run off the side of a truck scale or hit the guard rails. In these cases, the wider the scale the better as it provides more of a buffer for a driver to maneuver his truck on the scale. The second is wide-vehicles. In certain industries such as agriculture, wide-vehicles need to use the scales. For example, a fertilizer spreader truck with a width of up to 13 ft. This means you need to purchase a scale that is wide enough to fit these vehicles.

The standard width in the truck scale industry is 11 ft wide. That being said 90% of truck scale widths are between 10ft and 12ft wide. One thing to consider is that wider scales cost more in freight to have delivered. This is due to the wide-load permits and escort vehicles required. Once you go over 14ft often times that scale deck is split into two pieces and bolted together on-site since 14ft+ wide is hard to transport. Also consider the weight of the truck scales being shipped. Concrete deck scales are much lighter than steel deck; checkout our blog post to learn more about steel deck vs concrete deck truck scales.

Bottom-line, make sure you consider all the factors when deciding on the length and width of your truck scale. With proper planning you can make sure your truck scale will meet all your weighing needs. A final consideration is always cost; to learn more about how much truck scales cost checkout our blog post.

To learn more about the truck scales American Scale offers checkout our truck scale page.

Closing words

At American Scale we strive to bring you informed and useful content on all things scale related. Be sure to check out our legal for trade truck scale system articles about truck scale foundation or how much do truck scales cost. We even have a guide to warranties. We also have articles on scale accessories, common problems to prolong your scales lifespan, weighing applications as well as what scale indicator works best with your junction box. To learn more about bench scales, it would be good to check out our other articles such as “Bench Scale Basics'' and “How Much Does A Bench Scale Cost?”. These articles will help with the basics of bench scale ownership.

Length Of Time To Install A Truck Scale?

A common question we often get is how long will a new truck scale take to install. Just like many other components of a truck scale project, it really depends. In general a new steel deck truck scale with foundation will take around 7 days, while a new concrete deck truck scale and foundation will take closer to 3 weeks. However, if you are replacing an existing truck scale and reusing the foundation, a new truck scale can be installed in 1 day.

So what drives the length of a truck scale installation projects?

1. Deck Type:

   Steel deck truck scales can be installed in one day or less by an experienced scale installation company. This is because unlike a concrete deck the steel deck scale is ready to use as soon as it is calibrated. A concrete deck scale; however, will require at least 2 weeks after the scale deck has the concrete poured on-site to cure. If you don’t let the concrete deck cure all the way it will risk cracking and cause major structural issues for years to come. Bottom-line concrete deck truck scales take longer to install then steel deck truck scales. Learn More About Truck Scale Deck Types.

2. Foundation Type:

   The type of foundation will also determine the length of the project. Standard above ground foundations can be formed and poured in 2-3 days. They will also require some cure time. A pit foundation requires significantly more work; this means it will take closer to 4-5 days to form and pour. There are ways to shorten these time lines. In projects where it is crucial to minimize downtime we can often pour a high-early concrete mix. This mix will cure much faster than the standard mix although it does cost more because of the concrete additives that have to be used. Bottom-line, pit style foundations take longer to install then above-ground truck scale foundations. Learn More About Truck Scale Foundation Types.

3. Other Site Considerations

   The final item that determines the length of a truck scale installation project is whether all the secondary connections are ready and in place. By this we mean have you had electrical power run to the scale location, is the conduit run from the scale to the scale-house, is the PLC/HMI setup and ready to accept the new scale data, etc. Bottom-line these are all the ankle-biters at the end of project that tend to take much longer than anticipated. The key here is to have a clear game plan of who is responsible for what; meaning what is the scale company responsible for and what are you responsible for. Bottom-line, plan ahead and these tasks wont extend your project timeline, don’t plan ahead and they may become the longest portion of your truck scale installation project.

Steel Deck or Concrete Deck Truck Scales: Which Is Best For Me?

Steel Deck or Concrete Deck Truck Scales

What’s the difference between a steel deck and concrete deck truck scale and which one is best for my application?  

Steel Deck Truck Scale
Steel Deck Truck Scales are built with all heavy duty structural steel.  This will include steel I-beams running the length of each scale module.  Each manufacturer has slightly different designs for their I-beams ranging from the size, number, and shape.  Each manufacturer will claim their design is superior.  In our experience they all perform about the same assuming you are buying from a top-tier scale supplier (B-Tek, Mettler Toledo, Emery Winslow, Rice Lake, Cardinal, Fairbanks). A steel deck typically involves less initial cost – there is no investment in concrete or the labor to pour it. A steel deck scale weighs less, which makes it easier to move or relocate if needed. It can be fully operational within a day at your site, reducing production downtime and operational impacts.

Pros: 

• Faster installation as no concrete cure time is required

• Easier maintenance as the deck modules can be lifted 

• Reduced installation cost as fewer trips to complete job are required by scale dealer

• Higher resale value

• More custom profiles and sizes available (particularly extra low-profile)

Cons:

• Scale surface can be slick when wet

• Higher shipping cost since they are heavier 

Concrete Deck Truck Scale
A concrete deck truck scale is very similar to a steel deck truck scale, but each scale module has an open top for concrete to be poured into each deck, bonding the support beams of each module. A concrete deck needs approximately 21 to 28 days to cure, it offers greater resistance to rust and corrosion from road salt and generally requires less maintenance than steel decks, helping to extend the life of the scale. A concrete surface also provides better traction with rain and snow. Because of their design, concrete decks distribute the load over a wider area than steel decks.  Concrete deck scales were more common 10-15 years ago; however, they are still installed today.  

Pros: 

• Better traction in wet or slippery environments

• Reduced risk of rust or corrosion given there is less metal in the scale

• More mass which means there is less friction and stress on internal parts

• Hold up to acidic and chemical type environments well

Cons:

• Longer installation time as it takes 3-4 weeks for the scale deck concrete to cure to the proper PSI strength

• More difficult to move at a future date if you need to relocate the scale as each panel weighs ~25,000lbs vs ~8,000lbs for a steel deck

• More difficult maintenance due to the weight of the scale which can lead to higher maintenance costs

Conclusion

Choosing between a steel deck or concrete deck will come down to preference. Understanding your work site will help you figure out which scale deck will work for you. Our Learning Hub is a great place to start. For more detailed articles, check out “Truck Scale Foundation Types” or “How Muc A Truck Scale Cost?”. The learning hub is a great resource filled with articles that can help eductae you during your truck scale journey.

Truck Scale Foundation Types: What Are The Differences?

Truck Scale Foundation Types

The foundation will determine the lifespan of the scale and the lifespan of the scale will determine how much money stays in your pocket. The truck scale foundation is the lowest load bearing part of the scale. Even the smallest imperfections in the foundation can cause weighing errors and unintended wear and tear on the scale. The slope of the site and soil conditions must be examined carefully before construction, otherwise it could lead to problems down the road. There are three types of truck scale foundations: the pier foundation, the beam slab foundation, and the pit style foundation. 

Pier foundation
The pier foundation has “piers” that support each load bearing point. Typically some of the foundation is put below frost line so that when the ground freezes and thaws it doesn’t have any negative effects on the scale or the foundation. Pier foundations are commonly found in the north where the ground freezes more often. 

Beam slab (floating slab) foundation
The beam slab foundation has concrete beams that run the entire length and width of the scale. Typically the beam slab foundations are stronger than the pier foundation but are more susceptible to the cold.

Pit style foundation
Lastly, the pit style foundation has pits of varying depths underneath the scale. Each foundation will have different sized pits based on the scale and topography, but there is a minimum depth to allow technicians to access components under the weighbridge. Pits can require extra cleaning because debris can gather in the pits over time. 

Truck Scale Foundations: Pit vs. Above Ground

Truck Scale Foundation Types

How Technology Is Changing Truck Scales

The Future Of The Scale Industry.

Technology is changing every aspect of our lives. Advances in what once seemed transformational are now fundamentally changing the way we collect and use data. We have already gone from analog to electronic load cells, scale calibration has become a lot simpler due to systems able to monitor any changes in load cells. We even have remote displays and scoreboards for added convenience. Scale manufacturers are working to adapt new technology to the already evolving industry. Long are the days of just wondering if you want a stainless steel setup, or a steel deck over a washdown one. The changes have already started. The benefits of having digital integration within your scale operations are having a huge impact on profitability because of the information available from data collection. Technology is now the catalyst and data is the output.

What is done with that data will help your business to truly evolve.

A view of the entire system

While most industries have evolved with technology, the truck scale industry has not evolved as rapidly. Troubleshooting a scale can be difficult because problems can occur in various places. It can take hours to find a problem the traditional way using a voltage meter to check many locations on a scale.

Fortunately, new technology empowers service companies to see what’s happening with the entire system. You can now predict issues in advance of failure and get notifications if a problem occurs.

These technological advances enable service companies to identify, diagnose and solve any problem found on the scale saving time and money.

Accuracy streamlines processes

Digital integration automates processes, captures available data, and provides a digital ecosystem for storage and troubleshooting. This technology sends notifications to the service company, informs them of the issue prior to arrival, and decreases downtime for the scale.

Understanding the problems and potential threats help you to strategically approach the situation. For example, if a scale is not weighing correctly, it could impact your invoices and inventory. The scales that are available today can measure up to 100,000 pounds in 10-pound increments versus 20-pound increments, thereby being twice as precise.

It’s also important to understand how to take care of a scale to proactively prevent problems from occurring. The technology that’s available includes precautionary measures, helping you to protect your scale from threats such as lightning. A quality scale will guarantee this type of protection.

The service provider partnership

While these technological advancements help scale owners narrow down the problem, it’s still recommended to utilize service providers. We will help you keep up with new developments and stay on top of regulatory standards. It’s easy to keep us in the loop, too, because diagnosing and notifications are automated.

Without real-time data and collaborative relationships, it can sometimes hinder successful management. Having a strong partnership will help you make sure you know about changes, especially because technology is always evolving. Therefore, it’s important that you see your service provider as a proactive problem solver, empowered by data and notifications to correct any issues before the scale goes down.

Profitability comes from the ability to adapt to data being provided from having up-to-date technology. Data analytics is a powerful tool that has the potential to enhance efficiency and improve your service. Good data helps you sift through all the noise and quickly understand the issues and opportunities. Leveraging data will be the future game-changer for the scale industry, and it will be expected by your customers. American Scale Company will help you stay ahead of the curve!

Checkout more here

At American Scale we strive to bring you informed and useful content on all things scale related. Be sure to check out our legal for trade truck scale system articles about truck scale foundation or how much do truck scales cost. We even have a guide to warranties. We also have articles on scale accessories, common problems to prolong your scales lifespan, weighing applications as well as what scale indicator works best with your junction box. To learn more about bench scales, it would be good to check out our other articles such as “Bench Scale Basics'' and “How Much Does A Bench Scale Cost?”. These articles will help with the basics of bench scale ownership.