Technical weighbridge portal
Weighbridge: technical guide to weighing trucks and heavy vehicles
A weighbridge is a weighing platform sized to determine the total weight of trucks, lorries, articulated vehicles and other vehicles. An axle weighing platform, by contrast, measures individual axles in transit and adds the readings together. The correct configuration depends on the vehicle, the yard, the operating workflow and the legal use of the weight data.
FOUR KEY DECISIONS
A weighbridge should be selected by considering, in the right order, the data required, the vehicle, the yard and the operating process.
01
VEHICLE WEIGHT
A weighbridge measures the vehicle with the whole vehicle positioned on the loading deck.
02
INSTALLATION
Floor-level and over-floor installations respond to different yard constraints.
03
SIZING
Length, width and capacity must be defined together.
04
PROCESS
Software and self-service functions depend on the actual operating workflow.
HOW A WEIGHBRIDGE IS DEFINED
Weighbridge, weighbridges, vehicle weighbridge and truck scale are expressions used for the same type of vehicle weighing system. A modular weighbridge or electronic weighbridge must then be defined by installation type, dimensions, capacity, protective treatment and operating process.
OPERATION
How a weighbridge works
The vehicle is positioned with all wheels on the platform. The load cells convert the applied load into a signal that the indicator processes into a weight reading. In a double-weighing process, one reading is recorded on entry and another on exit: the difference between gross and tare gives the net weight.
I Bilanciai modular weighbridges are electronic and are available in varnished or hot-dip galvanized steel, with floor-level or over-floor installation. The product information specifies IP68 load cells and CE-M approval capability; the latter is a metrological requirement of the configuration, not a marketing slogan.
THE PROCESS IN BRIEF
- The complete vehicle moves onto the platform
- The load cells detect the applied load
- The indicator displays the weight data
- Double weighing calculates gross, tare and net
CONFIGURATION
Types and choices that should not be confused
Pit-mounted or floor-level describes the level of the loading deck. Above-ground or over-floor requires approaches designed to reach the height of the structure. Galvanised or varnished concerns the protective treatment of the steel structure instead. These are two separate design decisions.
The axle weighing platform answers a different question: how the load is distributed across the individual axles. It is not a synonym for a weighbridge or a second definition of the same system.
01
PIT-MOUNTED OR ABOVE-GROUND
Deck level and access arrangements affect civil works, vehicle paths and the overall footprint.
02
GALVANISED OR VARNISHED
The protective treatment should be selected according to the expected exposure.
03
WEIGHBRIDGE OR AXLE WEIGHING
Total weight and axle-load distribution answer different operational questions.
PROJECT
Dimensions, capacity and project design
The usable length must accommodate the complete vehicle being weighed; width, capacity and access must be assessed together. Reference configurations for the varnished weighbridge range from 4.50 × 3 m to 18 × 3 m, while the category reaches capacities of up to 60,000 kg. These are not universal design rules: final sizing must be based on the actual vehicle fleet and site.
Operational comparison
| Decision | Question to resolve |
|---|---|
| Weighbridge or axle weighing | Do you need the total vehicle weight or axle-by-axle detail? |
| Floor-level or over-floor | What access and space does the yard provide? |
| Galvanised or varnished | What environmental exposure is expected? |
| Manual or self-service | Who carries out and documents the weighing operation? |
Cost, automation and management
There is no single price: structure, dimensions, capacity, installation configuration, civil works, transport and assembly, indicator, printer, software and self-service equipment all affect the final cost. Publicly documented functions include single and double weighing, customer, material and vehicle master data, tickets and reports, as well as self-service terminals with POS or with coins, tokens and RFID badges.
AUTOMATION AND SOFTWARE
Software, tickets and self-service terminals should be configured around the actual process, without attributing integrations that are not documented.
Metrology and maintenance
When the weight data is used for a legal measuring function, periodic verification must be distinguished from calibration. D.M. 93/2017 sets a three-year period for non-automatic weighing instruments within its applicable scope, while the specific case must always be assessed. Technical maintenance does not replace this control.
DIRECT ANSWERS
Frequently asked questions
What is a weighbridge?
It is a platform that determines the total weight of a vehicle positioned entirely on the loading deck.
How does an electronic weighbridge work?
The load cells detect the applied load, the indicator processes the signal and displays the weight; software and peripherals can then record or print the weighing operation.
What are the main types?
Documented configurations include floor-level or over-floor installation, varnished or hot-dip galvanized steel, and dual-track weighbridges. The axle weighing platform is a separate system.
What capacity do I Bilanciai weighbridges offer?
The published range reaches capacities of up to 60,000 kg; the actual capacity must be confirmed for the selected model and configuration.
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Sources
Last technical review: 31 August 2026. Published by I BILANCIAI S.r.l.
WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH YOUR WEIGHBRIDGE WILL COST?
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