Weighbridges are typically used by many people when depositing rubbish at a waste transfer station. However, weighbridges have a much more varied function than just at the local tip. Weighbridges play an important part in the chain of responsibility when it comes to the sale and distribution of products, both large and small. The trucking industry uses weighbridges and the associated software every day, and here’s why.
What is a weighbridge?
A weighbridge is mostly used for weighing large vehicles such as trucks or rail containers. There are a number of different reasons for this. Firstly, by knowing the current weight of the vehicle, a weighbridge determines the weight of a truck’s load. This is useful in a number of industries where goods are charged by weight.
Most commonly, a truck that is transporting goods will have a weighbridge record from when they leave for delivery and again when they arrive at the delivery point. This helps to ensure that goods are not lost, stolen or otherwise removed en-route to their destination.
In addition, weighbridges can be used to determine the weight load on each axle of a vehicle. This helps to prevent trucks from being overloaded and risking damage to the vehicle and accidents.
Different types of weighbridges
Due to their varied use across numerous industries, there are several different types of weighbridges. Some of the most common ones include:
- Steel weighbridges
- Portable weighbridges
- Group Axle weighbridges
- In-motion weighbridges
- Cement weighbridges
Most weighbridges perform the same function, however the type of weighbridge is often chosen for its ability to fit in a particular setting. Also, consideration may be given to how much load can be measured by a particular type of weighbridge or whether the bridge can be removed and transferred elsewhere upon project completion.
What industries use a weighbridge?
Many industries use weighbridges for daily operations. Any business that sells and distributes large volumes of materials will use a weighbridge to validate the load weight of a truck. For example, a landscaping supplies company will use weighbridges to confirm deliveries of rocks and pebbles. Some other industries that regularly use weighbridges include:
- Mining
- Agriculture
- Construction
- Civil engineering
- Landscaping
- Waste management
These are just a few of the common uses for weighbridges, but you’ll often find that any operation involving the hauling of heavy loads by truck will incorporate a weighbridge into the chain of responsibility.
What’s the value of a weighbridge for chain of responsibility?
The answer is probably best described with an example. Let’s consider a business that regularly provides landfill, rocks and other products to a local government for their road construction projects. The business will load up a transport vehicle with rocks to be delivered 100kms away. The truck will use a weighbridge upon departure, which keeps a record of the exact weight of rocks that left the facility.
The civil construction company building the road uses a weighbridge at their end to validate the weight of the order. If there is a discrepancy, questions will be asked of the driver. A certain weight left the quarry, so the same weight should arrive at the construction site. Overall, the weighbridge ensures consistency and validates the sale, delivery and charging of goods.
Contact NWI Group for weighbridges today
We offer a huge range of weighbridges, and we’re the experts at installing them to ensure proper operation. From steel weighbridges to individual weighbridge loadcells, we’ve got everything you need. We can even provide Trade Verified weighbridges for use with trade weighing applications. Contact us today, and we’ll be happy to discuss your specific requirements.
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