Back in September 2010, Thurman Scale originally released the Digital Smart Sectional Controller (DSSC) for converting Mettler® DigiTOL® scales to Intalogix. In July of 2018, the DSSC went End of Life (EoL) due to several electronic components used in the design no longer being available.

However, recently Thurman has been able to source components to allow them to again manufacture and offer the DSSC for customers who desire to convert their Mettler scale to Intalogix.  Please continue reading as we discuss what the DSSC is all about and how it can help out a lot of customers who have older MT truck scales.

What is a Digital Smart Sectional Controller?

This is a special type of Smart Sectional Controller manufactured by Thurman Scale in St Johnsbury, Vermont specifically designed to interface to the Mettler 760 Powercell and MTX cells. These cells will have the cable connector on the top half and usually an orange label on the top half.

How do the DSSCs work?
The DSSC is very similar to the SSCs you may have heard of. DSSCs feature Thurman Scale Intalogix Technology. The DSSCs wire up very similar to the standard SSCs. Besides the ability to interface with the Mettler 760 Powercell and MTX cells, the DSSCs will drive four (4) load cells each, whereas the SSCs drive two (2) each. The DSSC was specifically designed to be a drop-in replacement for the existing Mettler junction box. The DSSCs even use the exiting Mettler mounting hardware. The DSSCs also use the same Pit Power Supplies as the standard SSCs.

Do the DSSCs only work with the Mettler 760 Powercell and MTX cells digital cells?
No. One of the best features of the DSSC is the ability to mix and match load cells.
As the Mettler 760 Powercell and MTX cells eventually fail, you can replace them with the standard analog 7.5” tall RC load cell (part # 95544 with 26’ cable). Other cable lengths available.

What scale instrumentation does the DSSC require?
The DSSC work with all Thurman Scale’s Heavy Capacity instruments which use Intalogix Technology. Such as TS611, TS612, & TS613.

Is special software required in the scale instrument to work with the DSSCs?
No special software is required to work with the DSSCs. Just 100% standard catalog products. From the instrument side, everything is exactly the same. You lose no instrument features or functions. You still have the very best load cell diagnostics available through Intalogix technology. You still have digitally isolated load cells. You still have optically isolated load cells. You still have the digital front panel calibration. Those items all remain intact because it is the exact same instrument. Simply choose the instrument that provides the best solution for you.

We also have an analog load cell scale kit replacement as well. However, in most cases we would probably recommend going with the Thurman digital scale equipment versus the older analog style load cells.

Is there a cumbersome load cell addressing scheme like some Mettler instruments require?
No. Just like any Intalogix system using our standard SSC, the cells are automatically
found and addressed by the DSSC ID. No connecting, disconnecting and reconnecting cells to find cell addresses. 

Is this a new product?
No. The DSSCs were originally introduced by Thurman Scale in September 2010.

Have we done many conversions?
Completed conversions number over five hundred (500+) scales. This is a hardened, field-tested in the most demanding of all applications.

Will the DSSC work with the Mettler PDX digital cells?
No. The DSSC was designed specifically for the Mettler 760 Powercell and MTX cells. The Mettler PDX cell is a different digital load cell with a different digital interface compared to the Mettler 760 Powercell and MTX cells.

Will the DSSC work with the Cardinal digital cells or the B-Tek digital cells?
No to both the Cardinal & B-Tek.  The DSSC was designed specifically for the Mettler 760 Powercell and MTX cells. The Cardinal digital system uses its own unique digital load cell with a unique and different digital interface compared to the Mettler 760 Powercell and MTX cells. Likewise, the B-Tek digital system uses its own unique digital load cell with a unique and different digital interface compared to the Mettler 760 Powercell and MTX cells.

So, why would someone want to buy this Thurman DSSC solution?
Mettler has updated their digital cells a few times over the years. Their current PDX load cell is not backward compatible with older digital cells. Mettler no longer manufacturers the 760 Powercell and MTX cells. This means if a customer has an older cell that fails, the MT solution is to replace every cell in the system to upgrade to the PDX cell.

Additionally, Mettler is no longer manufacturing instruments and replacement parts compatible with the Mettler 760 Powercell and MTX cells. This means the customer could face replacement of all load cells and the instrumentation. As you can imagine, this is not a desirable solution for most customers.

Until now, the owner of a Mettler Toledo truck scale using the Mettler 760 Powercell or MTX cells had no options but to replace all their load cells and possibly the instrument as well. No other manufacturer offers a similar solution to the DSSC. This is a unique product offering from Thurman Scale.

If this sounds like a product that would interest you, please complete our RFQ form on our website for more information.

A truck scale is a rather large investment for most businesses. So, it’s one of those purchases that you want to take your time with and do your homework. Needing a truck scale in a hurry is not a good situation to be in. Especially since most purchasing managers have never been involved in choosing and installing a 70 or 80 foot long scale for weighing trucks. So, you’re probably wondering what mistakes should folks avoid?  Well here are a few to think about.

Lack of Planning

A truck scale is a rather large investment. It also takes time from start to finish. It also has multiple key moments. The customer needs to have a manager or point of contact. Ideally one or two people. Questions and timelines will come up. 

Folks will ask, when is the truck scale arriving? Do we have power at the scale location? Are all the cables and conduits ready?  Is the customer ordering the crane to offload the scale?  When does the crane need to be there? Is the foundation ready for the scale?  The point of contact and the scale sales person / installer need to discuss the timeline so there are no huge surprises. 

Overlooking the Scale Foundation

Most customers around the Carolinas are going to choose an above ground truck scale. Back in the day customers would choose a mechanical truck scale and it would be installed in a pit since it had levers and took up a lot of space. However, that was back then… Most customers today choose to have a concrete foundation poured and place the scale on that. Otherwise, you are having to dig a hole and pour a lot of concrete. And of course the pit is going to collect a lot of water and then you’re looking at drains and pumps and that is usually not what we would recommend in most cases. 

You do want to make sure that you or the scale company use a reputable concrete person to pour and form the scale foundation. The last thing you want is the foundation cracking and not able to withstand the weight of the truck scale the trucks being weighed.

We have also seen situations where a potential scale buyer doesn’t have a good grasp on the location around where the scale will be located. There could be environmental issues as well as things like drainage lines nearby, etc…

Overlooking the Scale Location

Deciding where to place your new truck scale can sometimes be really easy and other times can be very challenging. It can be even more difficult when you have a half dozen folks involved with the truck scale buyer. Sometimes it can be a good idea to put someone in charge from your company so there aren’t too many folks involved in the decision making.

Generally speaking with truck scales, you want to place the scale in the correct area for your traffic flow. You also need to try hard to not place the scale in a low area where water is going to bring all kind of debris. One of the biggest problems that above ground truck scales struggle with is buildup that gets lodged under the weighbridge.

Not Choosing the Proper Load Cell Technology

In most situations these days, a truck scale buyer has three distinct types of technology to consider. Hydraulic, Digital or Analog truck scales.  Each has it’s place. We suggest that you discuss these options with your scale sales person to determine which is best for you.

Choosing the Wrong Scale Platform

Likewise, you also need to choose the scale platform material. Truck scales are exposed to various environmental conditions, including extreme temperatures, snow, ice, heavy rain… and on top of that possibly heavy traffic everyday!

If you are placing a truck scale in certain environments like HEAVY amounts of daily traffic or possibly weighing really corrosive materials… you might want to discuss this with your scale sales person first before you actually purchase the scale. If you discuss this first, you can likely take care of this with solutions like possibly a concrete scale deck instead of steel. Or you can perhaps get the “HD” version truck scale instead of just the “standard duty” version.

Not Slowing Down & Thinking About the Scale and Your Trucks

Before you place the order for a truck scale, be sure to measure your trucks and be certain what size scale you need. And, what about truck scale accuracy?  Most customers choose a 70, 80 or 100 foot long truck scale. Width is normally 11 feet wide. The other thing to think about is the number of trucks you expect to be weighing daily. Think about what this number will be five years from now. In other words if you think that you’ll be weighing well over 250 trucks a day, don’t buy a light duty truck scale. 

Not Choosing the Right Scale Company

Over the forty plus years we’ve been in business we have installed and worked on A LOT of truck scales. You name the town and we have probably worked on one near there. We have installed digital truck scales, analog truck scales, and even hydraulic truck scales. We’ve even had competitors tell customers that we’re out of business, just so they can sneak in and take the sale. Maybe we’ll talk about that in more detail some time…. but continuing on.

In our opinion, these days too many purchasing managers or QC managers worry about certain certifications and not enough about proven experience. Think about it, who would you want installing your truck scale… two state certified scale technicians who have a combined 35 years of experience OR two scale technicians with maybe 10 years of experience total, but with lots of badges and approvals that they might have earned by watching a video. We’ll take the experienced techs everyday! 

Not Investing the Money… The Scale Should Last for Decades So Spend the Money

Look, we all shop the internet for deals. All of us can find cheaper items for just about everything. Just remember, this truck scale that you’re looking to purchase is designed to last you for decades. Don’t be afraid to spend a little more money now to get a scale that might last an extra five or ten years. We see cheap scales everyday. There are some scale manufacturers overseas that can cut corners like you wouldn’t believe!  But do you really want to purchase a cheap truck scale that is built on price and reaching a certain “price point”? 

Focus on quality and the overall truck scale lifespan. Remember this is a scale that is going to have 80,000 lb vehicles driven over it everyday for years. Add in the outdoor elements and you want to make sure you buy a quality product that can last you two or three decades. Many times when customers choose a low end truck scale they often have to replace the scale much earlier than they would have with a traditional high quality truck scale.

Conclusion

Buying a truck scale whether it’s a 70 foot or 100 foot long is a large investment. It’s something that most folks only do once or twice in their professional career. Try to avoid the mistakes when purchasing a truck weighing scale that we have presented in this entry. By avoiding some of these common oversights many of you should be able to choose a high quality truck scale that will provide you with decades of quality weighing. If you would like to get buying advice or price quotes from us, please complete the RFQ form and we look forward to working with you.

Are you looking to optimize the accuracy of your truck scale measurements and ensure compliance with local and industry standards? Then, focusing on having a consistent truck scale calibration plan is vital. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the importance of calibration, the essential tests, and how to choose the right scale calibration service provider, ultimately helping you achieve optimal performance and longevity for your truck scales.

Important Points

• Regular calibration of truck scales is essential for accuracy, financial security, and safety.

• Factors such as usage, environment, and application impact the performance of a truck scale.

• Regular inspections, calibrations, and scale maintenance are necessary to ensure accurate readings & reliable functioning over time.

The Importance of Truck Scale Calibration

Truck scale calibration procedures are crucial for obtaining precise measurements, avoiding financial losses due to incorrect payments for shipments, and upholding safety regulations by preventing overloaded trucks. Calibration is the process of verifying a scale’s accuracy using certified test weights to compare the weight reading to the known value of the certified test weight, ensuring the most accurate measurement possible. If the weighment generated by the scale being calibrated does not match the known value of the certified test weight, (slight errors may still be within tolerance), the scale is out of tolerance, and technicians will adjust the scale until the reading accurately reflects the known value of the test weights.

Several online scale calibration software providers offer a calibration management tool which allows customers the ability to:

• Monitor their calibration status

• View equipment calibration and test histories

To ensure that truck scales deliver accurate measurements and function at their best, a consistent scale calibration schedule is a must. The easy way to do this is with a Service Agreement. We recommend contacting our service department and setting up a service agreement. You can specify how often you want your scale calibration done and you get reduced service rates and discounts on scales. Call (919) 776-7737 to get started!

Factors Affecting Calibration

Several external factors can impact the calibration of truck scales, such as usage, environment, and application. These factors make regular calibration necessary to ensure that the truck scales are providing precise measurement and operating optimally.

Gaining a clear understanding of calibration-affecting factors allows you to keep your truck scale accurate and dependable.

Legal Requirements and Standards

Legal requirements and industry standards necessitate proper calibration and certification of truck scales to ensure compliance and quality assurance. Truck scale calibration must adhere to legal-for-trade standards, using certified test weights for calibration purposes. Scale certification is mandated by the state, while scale calibration is not always mandated, ensuring the most precise measurement possible. Continue reading →

In the world of construction and infrastructure development, ready mix concrete plays a pivotal role as one of the most versatile and widely used building materials. The process of producing and delivering ready mix concrete is a well-coordinated symphony of logistics, and at the heart of this operation lies an unsung hero – the dump truck.

These workhorses of the construction industry are indispensable to the ready mix concrete business, facilitating the efficient transport of materials from production plants to construction sites. In this article, we explore the vital role dump trucks play in the ready mix concrete industry, with a particular emphasis on the importance of adhering to weight regulations to ensure safety and optimal performance.

1. The Foundation of Ready Mix Concrete: Aggregates and Cement

Ready mix concrete is a composite material composed of three primary ingredients: cement, aggregates (such as sand, gravel, crushed stone), and water. To produce high-quality ready mix concrete, the proper proportions of these components must be meticulously measured and mixed. This is where scales and dump trucks come into play.

2. Transporting Raw Materials to the Batching Plant

Before the mixing process begins, the essential aggregates (sand, gravel, or crushed stone) and cement are transported to the batching plant, where they are stored in silos or bins. Dump trucks serve as the workhorse in this crucial first stage. They collect raw materials from quarries or aggregate production sites and transport them to the batching plant. The efficiency and reliability of dump trucks in this process directly impact the overall production capacity and smooth functioning of the batching plant.

3. Precise Measurement and Mixing

In the ready mix concrete business, accuracy is paramount. The right mix of cement and aggregates must be precisely measured to produce concrete with the desired strength, durability, and other essential properties. Overloading dump trucks with excessive pounds of rock, sand, or cement can disrupt this delicate balance, leading to inconsistent concrete quality and potentially compromising the integrity of structures.

4. Load Capacity and Weight Regulations

Dump trucks come in various sizes and load capacities to accommodate different project requirements. It is crucial for ready mix concrete companies to understand and comply with weight regulations to ensure road safety and avoid penalties. Overloading dump trucks not only poses a risk to the driver and other road users but also accelerates wear and tear on the vehicle, leading to increased maintenance costs and potential downtime.

5. Road Safety and Compliance

In many regions, there are strict weight restrictions for commercial vehicles, including dump trucks, to ensure safe and efficient transportation. These regulations are put in place to protect roads and bridges from unnecessary stress and damage. Overloaded dump trucks can cause significant wear to road surfaces and increase the risk of accidents due to reduced vehicle stability and braking capabilities.

To maintain road safety and compliance, ready mix concrete companies should implement robust weighing and load management systems. This involves installing heavy duty 70×11 electronic truck scales to accurately measure the weight of the loaded vehicle before it hits the road. Drivers can drive over the scale empty, then have their truck loaded with sand, and then obtain a fully loaded weight. The company would now have a weight ticket that shows the gross weight, tare weight, and net weight enabling drivers and operators to optimize the load while staying within legal limits.

6. Optimizing Transport Efficiency

Transportation costs can be a significant portion of the overall ready mix concrete production expenses. Maximizing the efficiency of transport operations not only reduces costs but also minimizes the environmental impact associated with fuel consumption and emissions. Dump trucks should be strategically deployed based on the distance to construction sites and the demand for concrete. Utilizing GPS and route optimization software can further enhance transport efficiency, reducing travel time and fuel consumption.

7. Just-in-Time Delivery

Ready mix concrete is often produced and delivered in a just-in-time manner, which means that the concrete is mixed and transported to the construction site as soon as it is needed. This requires a well-coordinated fleet of dump trucks that can respond promptly to customer orders. Timely delivery is crucial in construction projects to avoid delays and ensure seamless progress on site.

8. Ensuring Material Integrity

Apart from adhering to weight regulations, dump trucks also play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the raw materials during transportation. The aggregates must be free from contamination and excessive moisture, as these factors can adversely affect the quality of the ready mix concrete. Dump trucks with appropriate covers and sealing mechanisms protect the materials from environmental factors during transit, preserving their quality and performance.

9. Navigating Challenging Terrain

Construction sites are not always located in easily accessible areas. Dump trucks are designed to navigate challenging terrains and deliver materials to even the most remote locations, ensuring that concrete can be produced and delivered wherever it is needed.

10. Enhancing Productivity and Profitability

Efficient dump truck operations directly contribute to the productivity and profitability of the ready mix concrete business. By ensuring timely deliveries, accurate measurements, and compliance with weight regulations, companies can enhance customer satisfaction and build a reputation for reliability. Furthermore, optimized transport operations lead to cost savings, which can be reinvested in equipment upgrades, workforce training, and business expansion.

Final Thoughts

Dump trucks are the unsung heroes of the ready mix concrete industry and play a critical role in the production and delivery. Their efficient and safe operation is essential for maintaining product quality, adhering to weight regulations, and ensuring timely deliveries to construction sites. Driving the dump truck across the truck scale empty and then fully loaded, provides companies and drivers with the information they need to know regarding net weight, tare weight, and gross weight.

What does a digital truck scale cost? You may be wondering what is a digital truck scale?  Is it different from a regular truck scale? Let’s answer some of those questions.

A regular or traditional truck scale often refers to a scale with standard analog load cells. This is older technology, but it’s certainly a proven product that is utilized by many businesses every single day.

Digital truck scales have digital load cells installed. The conversion from analog to digital signal in this scenario takes place at the load cell and with the cells sending this digital data to the indicator, they are also capable of sending additional data as well including things like errors, cabling issues, calibration data. And more in fact, one of the biggest benefits of this type of scale is the ability to store calibration data in a different location than just the digital weight indicator.

With old analog truck scales if you have to replace the truck scale weight indicator or a truck scale load cell, it usually means driving a large test truck out to calibrate the scale. With a digital scale, depending on what you have to replace, it could possibly mean, not having to use a test truck, which could mean a less expensive repair charge and possibly even faster scale repair as well.

Also, if you put a large steel truck scale in the middle of a field, it’s going to act as a lightning rod of sorts. The last thing you want is a huge bill every time a thunderstorm comes through and lightning wipes out some of your scale components. With digital truck scales because of the higher quality digital signal, this technology has proven to be very resistant to any lightning or surge events provided the scale is properly grounded.

Digital Truck Scale Prices

At the time of this article, a 70 x 11 digital truck scale costs around $78,000 or so. Now that’s just for the scale itself. Foundation, indicators, side rails, freight, installation and more would be additional. For comparison’s sake, standard analog truck scale at the time of this article can run somewhere around $72,000. So the additional cost to upgrade your order to a digital truck scale is not too bad.

And remember these are 2023 prices. So if you’re reading this in like 2035, they will be more expensive. But hey, by then, we’ll all probably be flying around with jet packs on, right? 

We do need to mention one small warning regarding digital truck scales. If you choose to go this route, you will want to make sure that you or the scale company that you work with stock any basic repair parts that you feel are necessary. These digital scales are not as commonplace as analog truck scales. At least not yet…. And therefore sourcing replacement load cells and special cables can sometimes be a challenge. 

If you’re in the market for a new digital truck scale, be sure to contact us (919) 776-7737 or you can complete the RFQ form on our website.