Did you know that overweight trucks are involved in more crashes compared to the standard trucks? Overweight trucks are more difficult to stop or avoid a collision in case of emergency. They can damage the brake and steering system of the truck and the accidents are usually more catastrophic due to their size and weight. Not only would you face heavy fines but there is a possibility of the truck drivers getting arrested for driving an overweight truck.
Here are 6 tips that truck drivers can implement to ensure proper truck weight management.
Maintain Your Equipment
Make regular calibration and maintenance of truck scales a priority as it assures accurate weight measurement every time you weigh the loads. Run safety checks and routine maintenance on every vehicle you own. Ensure that the weighing equipment and trucks meet the current safety, weight, size standards and other regulations. Ensuring this will prevent errors, damage and accidents.
Consider Fuel Weight
Don’t forget to take the fuel weight into account while measuring the weight of the truck. The fuel weight will be added to the overall weight along with the load. If your truck is traversing a long route, you must calculate the amount of fuel that would be burned between the truck stops. At the same time, you need to calculate how much fuel you may need to take on in between. It would be better to make some extra stops to re-fuel with smaller quantities rather than having extra fuel and paying a fine for exceeding the weight.
Secure Loads Properly to Prevent Displacement
After you load the goods, double check that they are secured properly. Ensure that they are distributed evenly and secured with tarps, containers and ties. This helps in preventing the cargo from coming loose, which may lead to hazards and dangerous accidents. Moreover, this would help you steer clear of the associated fines as well. Even if the load meets the weight limits, it can be damaging to the axles of the vehicles if the load gets loose and shifts while the vehicle is in motion.
Implement On-board Truck Scales
It is better to use on-board truck scales instead of just fixed scales to weigh the load. Investing in your own truck scales will not only save you the time and effort you would spend on weighing loads, but you will always be better informed about the weight of your trucks. This allows you to make appropriate decisions regarding the truck’s weight. It will help you prevent overweight trucks and the fines that are a result of it.
Get an Overweight Load Permit
It isn’t uncommon that despite taking all the necessary precautions, you may still find yourself in situations where the trucks exceed their weight limits for their route. If this is a regular occurrence and is an unavoidable situation, make sure you check about the overweight load permits available in your area. Ensure that the permits cover the projected loads that you are transporting and special vehicle size requirements to tackle these loads.
Understand Best Distribution Methods
Understand what is the best way to distribute the load onto the truck. Determine whether you should organize the load based on the type or weight. Take out every single item you don’t need off the truck as they would add to the total weight of the truck unnecessarily.
Letting an overweight truck hit the road is risky and reckless. Never guess the weight, as getting it wrong will lead to unfortunate consequences. Make use of on-board truck scales, which are easy to install and use, and be assured of safe trucks on the roads.
Author Bio:
Kevin Hill heads the marketing efforts at Quality Scales Unlimited in Byron, CA. Besides his day job, he loves to write about the different types of scales and their importance in various industries. He also writes about how to care for and get optimized performance from different scales in different situations. He enjoys spending time with family and going on camping trips.
