Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Do I need a concrete or steel deck on my truck scale?

  

Concrete Deck or Steel Deck - Which one do I choose?

In the many phone calls we receive at ScaleTrader.net, we often get asked by new users the difference between a concrete deck or a steel deck truck scale. We would like to discuss with you in today's blog the basic differences of each.

A STEEL DECK truck scale is the most common in today's marketplace. Probably 75-85% of new truck scales today are sold with a steel deck. Generally speaking, a steel deck truck scale has a checkered deckplate over the top of the truck scale that is either 1/4" or 3/8" thick which is welded to the support beams of the truck scale.

There are two main advantages of a steel deck truck scale:

1) They are ready to use once you drop the modules in place. With a pour in place concrete deck scale, you have to wait for the concrete to cure. (A few concrete deck models from different manufacturer's are poured at the factory but are usually expensive to transport).

2) They are easy to move when needed

3) They provide better re-sale value than a concrete deck scale since they are in higher demand

Today's common CONCRETE DECK truck scale is similar to that of a steel deck truck scale, but in this case, each scale module has a bottom skin with the top open and once the scale modules are set on the scale foundation, concrete is poured into each deck, making a bond with the support beams and the bottom steel plate of each module.

The main advantage of a concrete deck scale is that, once poured, it's heavier than a steel deck truck scale module. Looking back 40 years ago, manufacturer's only made concrete deck scales. The heavier each scale module is, the more mass the scale has and therefore the mass from the truck moving over the scale is absorbed easier. The theory here is the heavier the scale, concrete deck or steel deck, the longer it will last.

We hope this helps educate you on the differences between concrete deck and steel deck truck scales. ScaleTrader.net is here to answer your questions regarding truck scales, please Contact Us at anytime!

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