The CLC rating is not a measure of weighbridge strength or rigidity, because weighbridge deflection is not measured in the NTEP test. It is irrelevant if the load weighbridge sags 1/10th of an inch, or 10 inches, as long as the scale weighs within the accepted tolerance. The scale’s CLC weight rating passes in either case. A high CLC rating could be given to an extremely flexible deck sitting on load cell mounts which are capable of accurately handling the side loading resulting from a severely sagging weighbridge.

The Rice Lake SURVIVOR® truck scale line boasts a 45 ton (90,000 pounds) CLC rating. With most legal highway weight limits being a fraction of Rice Lake’s rating, owners of a SURVIVOR scale can expect a long lifespan through the most rigorous weighing processes of two million weighments or more. NTEP provides a set of procedures for the uniform testing and evaluation of weighing equipment. For a truck scale to be NTEP-certified Legal-for-Trade, the entire truck is weighed, not just a single axle or group of axles. The SURVIVOR series is approved for up to 270,000 pound full scale capacity with a 90,000 pound CLC rating, earning NTEP certification up to 14 feet wide. NTEP has additional guidelines for truck scales, such as the required length of approach ramps. For clarification on your state’s requirements, contact a qualified dealer who can help you determine the best site for your scale to meet those guidelines. For North Carolina, contact Central Carolina Scale in Sanford NC.

Truck Scale Indicator

Cardinal’s 225 Navigator features transflective technology which allows the 225’s display to be viewed under any lighting conditions from direct sunlight to total darkness. One-inch-high (25 mm) weight characters make viewing easy. View up to 3 scales with total weight simultaneously with the optional dual scale input board; no special software is needed with Cardinal 225 Navigator digital weight indicator.

Entering, viewing, and storing truck names is easy with the 225 Navigator’s convenient Truck ID menu.  Complete alphanumeric descriptions for truck and material prompts make storing and recalling tare weight values quick and simple.

Concrete Deck
While 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 yields better traction with rain and snow. Because of their design, concrete decks distribute the load over a wider area than steel decks.  Rice Lake SURVIVOR® Series concrete deck truck scales are poured at the job site and typically have cure strength of 4,000 PSI at 28 days. The concrete is reinforced with steel rods and a minimum of two wide-flange main beams and seven wide-flange beams below. The Rice Lake SURVIVOR® concrete deck design incorporates galvanized steel sheets working in conjunction with I-beams to ensure that concrete remains above the neutral axis of the weighbridge.

Many low cost models contain concrete below the neutral axis. Concrete below the neutral axis increases tension causing the deck to crack and eventual weighbridge failure.

Steel Deck
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, reducing production downtime.  Rice Lake SURVIVOR steel deck truck scale designs are consistent with the design standards used by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the federal Road and Bridge department. The diamond checkered steel tread plate is supported by wide flange structural I-beams positioned longitudinally with traffic flow.

Many other manufacturers use lighter beams, C-channels in the middle of the bridge or space beams further out from the center of the module to reduce the cost of the scale. Over time, this type of bridge can bow or dimple, causing inaccuracies in weighments, scale downtime and eventually complete failure.

One of the biggest reasons for choosing a pit type installation is space – or lack of it. A pit installation requires less space than a pitless installation due to the approaches, as sloped approaches to grade are generally required for pitless foundations. However, pit type scales require sump pumps and drains, and are more vulnerable to accelerated rust and corrosion due to the potential of standing water in the pit.