Vehicle Scales: Truck, Rail, Axle and Wheel Weighing
Brechbuhler Scales sells, installs, calibrates and services vehicle scales for scrap yards, aggregate and grain operations, rail yards, manufacturing plants and shipping docks. We've been in the truck scale business since 1929, and today more than 100 technicians at our branches across Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan, Kentucky and Illinois support everything from a single portable axle scale to a 400,000 lb heavy-duty truck scale.
Our vehicle scales
- Truck scales. Centurion, pit, side rail, heavy-duty (up to 400,000 lb), low profile and portable models in steel or concrete deck, with foundations, installation, NEXIA monitoring and ScaleSoft software.
- Rail scales. B-TEK static track, in-motion and combination truck/rail scales built to AAR and AREA standards, plus coil car scales for heavy custom applications.
- Axle scales. B-TEK AX200 portable and AX300 bridge axle scales, and in-motion axle scales with ticketing, traffic lights and truck in/out software.
- Wheel weighers. Portable, low-profile wheel scales rated 10,000 to 50,000 lb per unit; link up to six units, connect wirelessly, or add weigh-in-motion.
Which vehicle scale fits?
| You need to… | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Weigh full trucks for buying, selling or shipping | Truck scale | Legal-for-trade gross weights for every load; supports ticketing and unattended operation |
| Weigh railcars, or both railcars and trucks | Rail scale or combo truck/rail scale | Built to AAR/AREA standards; combo scales serve both traffic types on one platform |
| Check individual axle weights to avoid overweight fines | Axle scale | Portable or bridge units read each axle; in-motion options keep trucks rolling |
| Weigh vehicles at different sites, or where a permanent scale won’t fit | Wheel weighers or portable truck scale | Lightweight pads move between sites; up to six units link together |
| Keep weighing during a replacement or a short-term project | Rental truck scale | Portable rental scales cover outages and seasonal peaks; see rental scales |
Installation, calibration and service
- Turnkey installation. Our industrial services team handles excavation, foundations and approaches, and our crews bring the cranes and trucks to set the scale.
- Calibration. Every vehicle scale we sell or service can be calibrated by your local branch, with section tests and certified test weights. Certificates are available online through ScaleSuite. See scale and balance calibration.
- Monitoring and software. NEXIA LIVE watches truck scale health remotely, and ScaleSoft handles ticketing, inventory and unattended weighing.
Vehicle scale FAQs
What types of vehicle scales do you sell?
We sell and service truck scales (Centurion, pit, side rail, heavy-duty, low profile and portable), rail track and combination truck/rail scales, portable and bridge axle scales, and wheel weighers.
Do I need a legal-for-trade vehicle scale?
If weights are used to buy, sell or charge for material, the scale must be legal for trade under NIST Handbook 44 and inspected by your state's weights and measures office. Axle and wheel scales used only for checking loads may not need to be. Your branch can tell you what your application requires.
What's the difference between an axle scale and a truck scale?
A truck scale weighs the whole vehicle at once for a gross weight. An axle scale weighs one axle or axle group at a time, which is mainly used to check axle limits and avoid overweight fines.
Can you install the foundation as well as the scale?
Yes. Our industrial services team handles site evaluation, excavation, foundations and approaches, so one company is responsible for the whole installation.
How often should a vehicle scale be calibrated?
Many facilities calibrate at least once a year. Scales with heavy traffic, harsh weather exposure or high-value transactions should be calibrated more often, and your state may set its own requirements.
Can I rent a truck scale?
Yes. Portable truck scales are available to rent during a replacement, a construction project or a seasonal peak.
Find the right vehicle scale for your site
Tell us what you're weighing, how much traffic the scale will see and where it will go. Your local branch will recommend a scale and quote the installation.
