1. What size scale do you need? a common answer is 11 ft x 70 ft.
2. Type of deck you need? Steel or Concrete
3. Type of scale interested in? OTR ATV SR PT or other model
4. Foundation already exist or do you need a new one?
5. Will the scale be Grouted or Shimmed?
6. Guiderails needed? How about the number of manholes needed? Clean outs? Yes or No
7. Is NTEP Legal for Trade required?
8. Finish upgrade needed like special paint?
9. What type of business will the scale be used in?
10. What type of trucks/equipment are using the scale? What is the largest vehicle weighed?
11. What is the axle configuration of vehicles being weighed? Single Tandem Triple Axle
12. How many trucks will be weighed per day?

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.