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Choosing the right weighing system

The transport and freight industries have broad and differing needs when it comes to the weighing of goods and there isn’t one ‘right’ answer to the question of which weighing system is best for freight.
In these industries, requirements can range from static and dynamic vehicle weighing technologies such as weighbridges, axle weighers, truck scales, forklift scales, pallet weighers, weighing-in-motion (WIM) systems and onboard vehicle weighing systems through to calibrated and certified weighing systems for legislative purposes and management practices such as driver control systems and integrated software.  The solution depends on the specific weighing requirement.
Choosing the most appropriate weighing system depends on several factors including cost, speed of operation, efficiency, legal compliance, operating environment, frequency of use and accuracy.  It also goes without saying that for freight companies, time is money and their aim is to use their time, resources and equipment as efficiently as possible – so their choice of weighing equipment is crucial.
Speed is vital. Freight companies want to expedite the movement of freight and minimise the amount of time that vehicles spend on site so weighing systems need to operate efficiently without delaying operations. One example is forklift scales that can collect weight data seamlessly without causing any disruptions.
Accuracy is also important, because discrepancies in freight weights can lead to costly delays, disputes and claims and can have a negative impact on customer relationships. Billing accuracy and safe loading are commercial imperatives and freight companies need the peace-of-mind that there are no variances between the package weights that they are being charged for and the ones that their customers are paying for. Weighing inaccuracies can impact on a company’s profitability and bottom-line – so precision performance is key.
Choosing a weighing system that can handle heavy duty is also imperative. Many freight companies operate in rugged, harsh conditions and equipment needs to be sufficiently robust and durable to withstand continuous operation in challenging environments.
Freight weighing systems are also crucial from a legislative perspective. Trucks and vehicles have to be loaded within legal limits for compliant road use and to ensure that they meet the legislative requirements for duty of care and Chain of Responsibility laws. On-board truck scales are a good way of avoiding financial penalties, ensuring safety and weight concerns are addressed whilst at the same time, assisting operators to enhance their fuel and operational efficiencies.
Overloaded vehicles are also unsafe, so weighing systems such as onboard truck scales and weigh-in-motion systems play a crucial role in preventing non-compliant vehicles from entering the road network.
Further legislation in the form of the new SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) regulations will also have a major impact on organisations’ choices of weighing systems because this directive puts legal responsibility for compliance directly onto the shipper. In terms of these new global laws, container gross weights have to be verified before they can be loaded onto a vessel either at a verified weighing station or by combining the individual verified weights of all packages in the container (plus the weight of the container and any packaging materials).   These new laws will have a knock-on effect throughout the container supply chain – so it’s essential to understand what your obligations are and to choose the appropriate certified weighing system if required.
For operators across the freight industry, from warehousing and aviation to road transport, rail and shipping, having the right weighing system is imperative. If you need help matching your needs with the appropriate system, a good call is to talk to someone with extensive industry experience and a deep understanding of the legislative and operational landscape – because there should be no room for error.
Article supplied by Accuweigh.

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