Weighing a Moving Truck: A Step-by-Step Guide

Moving can be a stressful experience, and it's important to make sure that you have all the information you need to ensure a smooth transition. One of the most important steps in the moving process is weighing your truck. Knowing how much your truck weighs can help you determine the cost of your move and ensure that you are following safety regulations. In this article, we'll explain how to weigh a moving truck and what to do if you need to stop at a weighing station along the way.Before carriers load furniture or boxes onto the truck, they weigh the entire truck.

This is known as the tare weight or empty weight. Once everything is loaded onto the truck, they return to the scale and weigh it again. This is known as the gross weight. It's important to note that certified scales are inspected and approved for accuracy by a government inspection or licensing agency, while uncertified scales are not.When weighing your truck and fifth-wheel trailer, it should be completely on the scale and it is best if you place the steering axle (front wheels) of the truck on platform 1 and the drive axle or rear axle of the truck on platform 2.Rental trucks come in different weights and sizes, with an average 10-foot truck weighing about 8,600 pounds and larger trucks at 26 feet weighing about 26,000 pounds.If you hire a professional moving company, they may ask you to give up your right to weigh a shipment on a certified scale.

It's important to remember that you have the right to use a certified scale, as using an uncertified scale may cause you to pay a higher final bill for your move if it does not properly weigh your shipment.The moving company will calculate the difference between the tare weight of the container (including all pads, locks and reinforcements used in the transport of your shipment) and the gross weight of the container with your shipment loaded into the container. The moving company may use an alternative method of weighing the shipment if it weighs 3000 pounds (1362 kilograms) or less.You also have the right, and the moving company must inform you of its right, to observe all re-weighings of your shipment. If the moving company does not submit its freight bill with all the peso tickets, they violate federal law.When driving a moving truck, you may have to stop at weighing stations along the way. When truck drivers stop at a weighing station, they must park on a portable or fixed scale.

Officials read the weight of the truck inside their home office from the scale.Sure, Aunt Ida bought you that lovely fuchsia turtle pillow when you moved into your new house, but not all housewarming gifts are so unique. Here's how to determine if your moving truck qualifies for a scale and if you should be there when it happens. As with a split axle trailer, weighing an oversized load will also require you to move the truck during the weighing process.

Matthew Oestmann
Matthew Oestmann

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