How come you guys in the states don’t get inbuilt scale systems in your trucks?
Posted by DarreTheSwedeYT@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 248 comments

Just a dumb question from a european trucker lol, instead of having to drive over to a scale to find out if you’re overweight you can just quickly check in the display in the truck. Is it just that it’s too expensive maybe? :D
A nice little feature I wouldn’t wanna be without :D, been standard on European trucks for many years now.
MPV8614@reddit
Cat scale would probably lobby to make them illegal
Totallycomputername@reddit
Cat would likely be the one to create the tech and charge a subscription service to use it.
iamiccee@reddit
Why not, they just sent out another email recently that prices are going up again.
Illustrious-Tip-2736@reddit
No shit:/ Just two years ago it was $12 and $3 for reweigh. Got charged $14 and $5 yesterday
Extension-Chemist306@reddit
I remember $4 and $1
No_Ocelot4019@reddit
It was 12 this this time last year
Hairymike6340@reddit
40 years ago it was $5
iamiccee@reddit
I remember a few years ago when they made their first change... They made a point of saying it had been the same price for 5 years or 10 years or whatever... Now it seems like it goes up a dollar every 6 to 12 months
L0quence@reddit
Well they gotta make up for those last 5 or 10 yrs it didn’t go up. Watch it be $37 next yr
_Aech_@reddit
$14.75 in the Chicago area. Glad I'm a company driver & don't need to worry about the cost every time.
foreverlost1nsea@reddit
I'm Missouri as well, is it country wise already?
nekaiser@reddit
In Alabama rn. Was $14 flat like two weeks ago, been through several states and all are getting the extra 75¢
laddergoatperp@reddit
Wtf, it's free over here. The government provides weigh-in stations 🤷♂️
sultrytrucker@reddit
What country are you located?
laddergoatperp@reddit
Sweden
sultrytrucker@reddit
Nice! USA government doesn't think about the ppl, just how much $$ to get from us. Land of the FREE, with much to pay!
Alternative_Edge_775@reddit
We have state run weigh stations, but if it's over weight, we get a ticket, possibly a fine, and a mark in our record.
laddergoatperp@reddit
Well shit. Either way they get paid and the little guy loses.
Full-Respect-8261@reddit
That would be really helpful in areas in hate to pull in line NJ
iamiccee@reddit
I've always said that the scales should be free use at weigh stations. If it's the first scale house on your way, you can pull in, double check and roll on... (Like the ones that display your weight)
Maybe I'll run for Congress...
laddergoatperp@reddit
They should indeed. The point of them is for people to realize their weight before it's too late, thus reducing damage and costs in the long run.
Pierce_H_@reddit
Why? It’s the same scale.
Tricky_Big_8774@reddit
Im sure they'll blame it on tariffs...
foreverlost1nsea@reddit
It already is more expensive. From 14 to 14.75 lol
pingus3233@reddit
Their prices did, in fact, just go up again.
MCryptoWars@reddit
Facts! Here in America, we have a lot of lobbying, that’s why we have more accidents now than ever from Non-Domicile/H-1B/H-2B drivers. Amazon is taking advantage of the cheap labor and legally getting away with it. Instead of paying more to qualified CDL A Drivers!
TheFringedLunatic@reddit
Sorry, they can’t hear you. Visa printer go brrrr!
W1D0WM4K3R@reddit
Okay but I kinda like having someone else come with me to court.
If the auto-scale system fucks up, chances are, lawyer is going to ask why I didn't check it properly, or whatever.
Basically I like sharing liability with someone.
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit
Cat increased their scale price by .75 cents
homucifer666@reddit
^ This right here
Ok_Bug_6470@reddit
We don’t have the setup that you all have .we have mismatched trucks and trailers and out in cab weights are pressure based and ballpark.
tractorferret@reddit
How come you guys in Europe always ask that kind of question? It’s so fucking moronic. How come you guys in Europe don’t get long nose trucks?
Formal_Lawfulness561@reddit
Some companies do, it’s called right weigh and it’s a really nice system to have.
robzombiesoulfucker@reddit
In Australia it was a $16ooo option on a western Star
Audoinxr6@reddit
Jesus christ. Its standard on all air ride axles on Scanias
RoseKlingel@reddit
Omg now I like the flat-faced Scanias even more!! 🥰
Also wtf, why doesn't the USA have the feature OP has?! 🥲
Open to anyone --what is it like to drive big trucks in Europe? Weekly hours, compensation, expectations, etc. Just curious as a USA driver.
Montreal4life@reddit
canadian here but ive looked into european driving, generally much less pay, like pathetically low, BUT you get good social benefits in general, good quality of life as a base, so it's very doable. Many jobs are union, and i believe its all paid by the hour there... apparantly much less hours worked too. Then there's the trucks they drive, positive or negative depending on your preference.
DanEpiCa@reddit
German who moved to Canada here : you're right. I just want to add that pay is either hourly or salary. And the parking situation and infrastructure (showers....) is shit.
RoseKlingel@reddit
Very cool! Sorry about your parking and shower situations.
DanEpiCa@reddit
It is what it is, very crowded. Germany feels like the US north-east.
If you have more questions I'm happy to answer.
Also back in Germany I ran a (English spoken) Youtube channel to show a little bit how trucking in Germany is.
RoseKlingel@reddit
Oh this YT channel is gonna be epic! Ty!
Hehehe I dislike driving trucks in the NE, good comparison! I avoid it as much as possible.
DanEpiCa@reddit
Hope you enjoy it. As I said in another comment I'm inactive right now and cut it off right before I moved to Canada in February 2023. Don't know when or if I'll pick it up again, but still appreciate any input (here or on YouTube).
RoseKlingel@reddit
Gotcha! Looking forward to it. :)
Montreal4life@reddit
sub'd
DanEpiCa@reddit
Thank you. Though I do have to say I'm inactive on YouTube now. The cut is pretty much right before I moved to Canada in February 2023. I don't know yet when or if I'll pick it up again.
I still do appreciate any feedback, comments, discussions and input, though.
Montreal4life@reddit
no worries im always curious on trucking on the other side of the atlantic. my father is from europe maybe one day ill get to drive a truck in eu
DanEpiCa@reddit
I always liked and still do like the comparison between Europe and here. Fascinating how different the approaches can be to the same problem (moving stuff around).
Dominik_Tirpitz@reddit
Well that's because, at least in Germany, pay by mile/km is illegal. Should be valid for most of the EU I guess.
DanEpiCa@reddit
Should be illegal worldwide, it's scammy...
Duke-Lazarus@reddit
The EU trucks are quite maneuverable and comfortable to drive. Automatic transmission is standard.
Here in Holland you have a hourly wage, enforced (if that’s the right term) by a union. Around 25 paid free days.
And if you’re lucky, paid day off on holidays which are not deducted from the 25 days mentioned.
But, the pay is lower as the US. And you’re treated like shit by most customers. Especially if you don’t speak English or Dutch.
RoseKlingel@reddit
How do the 25 paid free days work? Sorry the customers are mean, that sounds like extra work to be mean. :(
Duke-Lazarus@reddit
I don’t mind mean customers, I understand them.
Imagine if you have a driver delivering something, and they don’t speak Dutch, English or German. It’s annoying.
But the payed free days is somewhat comparable to PTO, if I am correct. They are days a employee can take a free day and still receive wage.
It is separate from sick leave, so to speak. If you call in sick, those days sick are separate from your PTO.
RoseKlingel@reddit
Oh, interesting! Yeah, language barriers must be devastating. Difficult to explain freight and what goes to each stop, etc.
AnimeRoadster@reddit
The amount of times I've turned up to a customer, the conversation starts in English and they later discover I speak and am Dutch is hilarious. Always burst out in laughter when it happens as well xD got plenty of free hot choccy's out of it too!
Duke-Lazarus@reddit
Lucky you! My Dutch accent when speaking English is as thick as can be.
They often guess quite quick that I’m Dutch.
Dead_Namer@reddit
Less pay but you get paid by the hour, still get paid when sick, taking your 28 days off, taking a piss etc.
PBTH means you can decline loads and still get paid so everything is much safer.
You also drive less hours per day too. Driving is safer because you drive at much lower speeds, no drums but you also carry a lot more load.
RoseKlingel@reddit
Oh I was very curious about number of hours driven per day and week! Interesting that it's fewer. Def safer to have fewer fatigued drivers.
Alternative_Edge_775@reddit
I heard their rest areas are super nasty. The description was so vivid it gave me a literal nightmare. 😬
EscapeWestern9057@reddit
Most US trucks don't have air ride front suspension one possible reason is that air front can feel loose.
I drive a truck with leaf front suspension and rubber bushing rear suspension, looks like it sits on a hockey puck.
thehaggarddapper@reddit
You should just post this as a proper post instead of just a reply, I too am keen to know how much greener the grass is on the other side.
RoseKlingel@reddit
I will consider it! :)
Fit_Hospital2423@reddit
You mean you all pay for it whether you want it or not.
Agamemnon323@reddit
That doesn't make it expensive, or a bad idea.
Renault_75-34_MX@reddit
You pay for lane assist and other stuff as well then, even if you don't want assist systems, because they're standard as well.
A built in scale that's standard one thing i don't see why you wouldn't want it. You can know right away when you're overweight, or you transport bulk and want to make sure you don't get overloaded, but also get as close as possible
Signal-Perspective65@reddit
How accurate are your scales? I've only used a Mercedes that has it at my workplace but its scales are about 700kg off the weighbridge reading.
Thewanderer540@reddit
My volvo's system is accurate to 100kg. I can calibrate it myself in the scale with a specific trailer that I can save in the system for later.
FruitOrchards@reddit
Thought it said $1600 and thought that weren't bad but $16k is absolutely criminal.
syrity@reddit
At my old company it was $25k to get them turned on in a Volvo. It comes on the FH16 standard but they charge $25k to plug the computer in and turn it on.
FruitOrchards@reddit
I could find someone to do it for $500 tops.
Copie247@reddit
Or you could get an aftermarket solution like rightweigh for under 1k.
Kenworths come with it standard, but are snaking gauges
FWD_to_twin_turbo@reddit
It's not standard. I actually have a few of them without it. Still nifty, though, between that and my trailer scale, i never need to pay for a cat scale outside of registering a new truck.
AugustusTheVictor@reddit
We have states the size of European countries. That's unrealistic to ever happen in the US
GatheringCoins@reddit
Overweights are a big source of revenue for small towns. Elwood IL has their own scale with local the local Police Department doing DOT inspections. And check this: the scale is right before you get to the entrance to BNSF Logistics Park, one of the largest intermodal railyards. With lots of truck traffic in and out.
Hxncheaux@reddit
I can tell if I should scale or not based on how long it takes this rig of mine to reach 50mph…
KitteyGirl2836@reddit
Best we get is a suspension gauge if it works
Megalodon7770@reddit
I have them, but my truck is 96 and my bro installed them
GusMx91@reddit
I have a suspension pressure gauge that kinda serves that function
Ok-Bar5260@reddit
International and Kenworth both, to my knowledge, have the optional equipment to do so. Kenworth has an external mechanical system attached to the air bags’ pressure behind the fifth wheel, International has a digital system.
My International does have it, and it is fairly accurate, but always reading about 400-500 high with how it was calibrated. Thankfully, I see that as a pro that it does read high. Only time I use it, without scaling, is when I have a tight load schedule less than 600 miles and under 19.5 tons. Otherwise, I use it as a frame of reference until I can safely make it to a scale.
Late-Statistician690@reddit
Because it's easier to make the driver pay than invest in good equipment
YaBoiAggroAndy@reddit
Brother if you’re paying for scale tickets you gotta get with a better company
Late-Statistician690@reddit
Very true
High-In-Potassium@reddit
The piece of shit International I used to drive had it, but the damn thing was so far off and maintenence couldn't be bothered. Current truck I drive doesn't, but I can more often than not just feel that the weight is off by driving it a little.
That aside my company reimburses me tax free for every scale receipt I turn in. Every penny Uncle Same doesn't get to touch makes me happier.
YaBoiAggroAndy@reddit
I drive a 2023 international and I have drive tandem weight built in 🤷♂️
Totallycomputername@reddit
Money. Very possible there's a time in the future when it becomes more standard but we have a lot of older rigs on the road and many companies that would never willingly spend money to upgrade.
Ben325e2@reddit
Okay, but on new trucks though. That display in OPs pic isn't from a 2004 Scania.
emme11245@reddit
OP is driving a Mercedes, I have a scale in my 08 Scania
ignoreme010101@reddit
lol can't believe this needed to be clarified :p
DarreTheSwedeYT@reddit (OP)
Ikr :D, 2023 Mercedes benz actros to be precise lol
Wernher_VonKerman@reddit
I was gonna say, this looks like the new generation freightstar ui, and a guy up above us in the thread says his new 57x has it - probably the same system.
XtreamerPt@reddit
I think I saw this system on a 2016 Actros so this isn't a new thing.
sundaybann@reddit
I have a similar display in my western star. It’s useless because it’s not active and my trailer doesn’t have the capability to be read by it. But I have it. 2025 57x
Ben325e2@reddit
That makes sense. Western Star -> Freightliner -> Mercedes
FruitOrchards@reddit
Plenty of old trucks have built on scales in the UK.
Ranger7381@reddit
Old quote from a Heinlein book
“Any question that starts with ‘why don’t thy…’ the answer is always ’money’”
Wetwire@reddit
There’s also a large factor that most clients wouldn’t trust those systems for certifying load weight if pricing is based on weight.
Certified scales keep customer from looking for another reason to bitch.
UrbanGhost114@reddit
This is the reason here
South-Diamond-4522@reddit
Probably too expensive
CompletelyPaperless@reddit
Yeah well I bet your truck dash panels don't fall out, or your curtain connectors don't break when you look at them weird, or your roof doesn't slightly leak during rain. That's only All American 2025 Peterbilt quality. You don't get the joy of taking bets on what will fall off and break next.
HighClassLoser@reddit
That's nice technology, I'm sure cost is the reason why it's not used over here. And for us tanker drivers, scaling is never an issue...
Alternative_Proof578@reddit
Cat is a pussy
FreeAndRedeemed@reddit
Most of us have a gauge for that on the drive axles, by displaying the pressure in the bags. For instance, I know if my truck is showing 69(nice) PSI, that I’m at about 33k lbs. Most of our steer axles are spring ride, so there’s no way to measure it. Some trailers have a gauge similar to the drives I just mentioned. It’s an option, and lots of trailers don’t have it.
kxlling@reddit
I had this on the last kW I drove, but the one international and multiple Freightliner's I've used have not had the pressure gauge for the drives. I'm guessing its standard on the kW and an add-on they don't want to pay for on the others
fdisc0@reddit
my international literally has a screen on the dash that you tab over to and shows the exact weight on the drives, almost like in the picture above.
Cool_Algae4265@reddit
My KW has one, when I had a freightliner we had an actual weight gauge but I think it was aftermarket.
It wasn’t super accurate but if you were over 32k ish you knew you needed to get it scaled, same with the ones on the trailer.
LoopDoGG79@reddit
That's what those gauges are for, to let you know if you should scale. It's analog after all
Noxious14@reddit
I used to be able to convert this quite well. I found every truck was different, even same make and model. Mine was 64 PSI was the max before being over, so I knew if I had a load that was close to gross I’d aim for 64 and be right on balance probably 75% of the time.
Jimbrutan@reddit
Yeah, the football field way of calculating things. Of course it’s America
schweinekuchen_@reddit
trucking just like in 1946
FreeAndRedeemed@reddit
Yeah, sure…
West_Imagination3237@reddit
I don't ever trust that ish
wipedcamlob@reddit
Can id you calibrate it frequently enough
West_Imagination3237@reddit
I never touched it. I typically run to Cat Scales as soon as I'm loaded. I never calibrate it. Maybe the company does during maintenance.
wipedcamlob@reddit
Yeah its different id youre not running the same trailer all the time. Theyre accurate but not if you dont know and if its not calibrated often enough. Theres some trucks we have that its bang on and some out 2000kg
Idiotwithaphone79@reddit
Upvoting for (nice)
TheMetalWolf@reddit
You see, the economy... it's in shambles.
krusteePickleCheeze@reddit
We do have in truck guages, they tell.us our drive and trailer axle weights, and I just assume my steers are a little over 12K.... I drive an end dump and weight is a constant issue
HollowMonty@reddit
Unless it could also do it for the trailer it's kind of pointless. Since I have to scale ticket anyway.
DarreTheSwedeYT@reddit (OP)
Yes it works for the trailer too, since it’s got the same air suspension as the truck so it senses the weight as well
Advanced-Sherbert-29@reddit
You'd still have to get your trailer axles weighed, right? So why bother?
DarreTheSwedeYT@reddit (OP)
Well, since we have air suspension on all our trailers as well we’re able to see the weight on the trailer axles too🤷♂️
BlkBerg@reddit
Why not? Because of all the jobs and industry that revolve around it. It’s just like the drug trade.
Imagine if every truck had this, all the scale houses were closed down, all those workers will be out of work, cop should have one less reason to do an inspection on you, so they wouldn’t be anymore so that people will get fined. And then all the people you call when you need help when you are overweight and you get caught by a checkpoint or something.
Same thing with drug trade, all the enforcement inspections everything will stop. They actually got rid of it.
A lot of jobs rely on it
Jadeazu@reddit
Like the top commenter said,CAT scale wouldn’t approve of that and I’m sure DOT would lose revenue if trucks went that route
GreatWhiteM00se@reddit
I have spring front suspension (so I just assume max weight of all of the time), and a gauge on my drive axles that shows the air pressure required to hold the truck level. If I have the trailer axles to the rear and they've loaded the trailer evenly, as long as I'm under 73psi on my drive axles, I'm not over gross in the US. The I slide the trailer axles up until I'm reading 64psi and I'm legal weight on those axles.
For Canada it's around 69psi to be legal on the drive axles, but my trick with the trailer axles to estimate gross doesn't work because I'm usually loaded right to the back doors or have a 3 axle trailer.
bobmonkeyclown@reddit
Some do. It costs extra money.
Few_Jacket845@reddit
Recently drove a brand new International that had a digital display with a pound readout for the drives. It was a couple thousand pounds short of set correctly, though. It was useful for a rule of thumb, but I wouldn't want to rely on it for compliance.
If there was a standard, and they were certified, and I couldn't get a ticket if my "certified" onboard system were showing me legal, then I would see the value. Otherwise just more money in an overpriced industry, that's still likely to result in a fine if I'm out of compliance.
But yes, it would be fantastic.
Desh282@reddit
My company has some. But we also have our own scale at the DC. The guys who go past downtown use them.
FileCareless@reddit
Because CAT scales would lobby tf against it. And we have the freedom to use whatever cat scale we want lol
xNando559x@reddit
As a shipper/receiver we only accept scale tickets More than half the time equipment doesn’t work or don’t know when it was last calibrated so we go by scale tickets
LoopDoGG79@reddit
Because, companies are cheap af. I daily in a 2018 Freightliner day cab with 492,000 miles pulling a trailer from 2010, local deliveries of meat. It still, "works", and it's fully paid for, so they could care less to improve them
JeepingTrucker@reddit
Companies here look to maximize profit, often at the expense of the driver. They wouldn't pay for a feature like that on their trucks. That tends to be a luxury afforded to owner operators that spec their own truck when buying it.
supajaboy@reddit
There is one for the drive axles in my prime truck.
natkingcoil@reddit
Our LTs have them and lots of people add them to their trailers but yea it is curious that they all don't have it. Especially for what trucks and trailers cost these days it's minimally extra
killerdude1989@reddit
I got a simple one on my truck for the drives but it's off by about 2000 lbs
RADAR3015@reddit
Who says some of us don't have a system? We have an air valve just like for your tires connected to our trailer suspension. Walk back with a truck air pressure guage and check the air pressure reading. Drives, I go off the guage in the dash. Only need to scale if I'm close to my max gross and need the piece of mind that I nailed it.
Wahree_77@reddit
Because we claim to be the best country in the world, and it’s all lies…..that’s why!! 🤷🏾♂️
MindMaster164@reddit
It is an option I have seen a few times working on trucks. So it is there. It is possible some companies don’t buy the option
Asia989@reddit
My prostar only gives me the drives weight, an it's usually 1200-2k off the cat scale
sultrytrucker@reddit
They have on board scales. I believe you have to pull same trailer connected to the truck to work.
kanofcorn@reddit
I have a gauge for my trailer and truck. Less than $300 for both and zero technology to go wrong
magichands6969@reddit
salt
ColdStov@reddit
Because that would actually be helpful.
AndreiAliz@reddit
Is this Mercedes ?
DarreTheSwedeYT@reddit (OP)
Yup, Mercedes Benz actros
Refrigegator@reddit
If most companies here could find a way to save a buck they wouldn't provide steering wheels.
e0240@reddit
Same reason we get drum brakes we are way behind when it comes to safety and convenience.
Easyd26@reddit
This truck doesn't articulate so it would be essentially useless. For trailers and such the upkeep would be a nightmare and not worth through the increased cost
kvadi@reddit
Can you see the trailer tab on the touchscreen? Press that and it shows trailers 1 and 2 if theres more. It can also show dolly axle weights if you are using one. Also supports Finnish 6 axle trailers common here.
RKK-Crimsonjade@reddit
We have more trucks and trailers. It’s not hard to think of
Born-Doctor974@reddit
My truck has a scale. It’s a 2022 Freightliner Cascadia. All the trucks in my fleet have them. We live in the USA.
InquiringPhilomath@reddit
Does it have all 3 axles?
JOliverScott@reddit
The technology exists but it costs money and also it's not accurate enough for legal trade.
XtreamerPt@reddit
Well actually from this year onwards this system is supposed to be connected to the truck tacograph all new trailers also must come with built in scales and all the information must be recorded in the the tacograph.
Here they made it legal trade.
JOliverScott@reddit
I haven't heard anything about it but I don't doubt it. The method isn't that hard, it's just measuring the air pressure of air suspension but there's plenty of outliers that still wouldn't be air suspension plus the life cycle of some trailers means it isn't going to just magically be implemented across entire fleets - some trailers stay in service for decades. But like any other mandate, if it adds operating cost then it'll be factored into the price of freight but with prices stuck where they are it'll simply cut into profits.
SomeMerc@reddit
Hell are roads would more than likely break the system or keep knocking it out of calibration. Be another useless bobble on the truck. And to prove my point digital drive axle scale on. My truck is at least 3k off from acucurt.
XtreamerPt@reddit
You can calibrate everything in these trucks, even the fuel consumption when injection starts getting wonky, I don't understand the problem.
spyder7723@reddit
Why don't you calibrate it?
skeletons_asshole@reddit
Look at the rest of the truck - we’re decades behind you scania driving fuckers
XtreamerPt@reddit
I think that's a Mercedes Actros display.
Nero-Danteson@reddit
Some of the Volvos have the drive and steer weights on the dash. I work for a mega so no clue if it's standard or not. I have a frieghtliner and have the airbag pressure for my bags, which if I can get it close to 60 I know it's close enough.
GroteStruisvogel@reddit
"Why wont fhey buy our vehicles???? :(((("
Top-Sheepherder-3657@reddit
It isn't standard equipment on euro trucks either.
They're notoriously inaccurate just like TPMS.
In Australia, lot of companies are mass managed and have to use weighbridges that are calibrated and certified and carry a ticket to be legal when they're up on their weights.
The company I work for isn't mass managed but we do have systems on the trailers that give an approximation based on airbag pressure. They're often way off.
We use load sheets and standardized patterns because we carry stillages with known weights and are usually limited by volume rather than mass.
Onboard weighing systems should only be used as a guide.
National_Pay_5847@reddit
Not so long ago they still had paper logbook so I think you’re expecting bit too much
FatCat457@reddit
We don’t have enough fingers and toes
Environmental-Film-5@reddit
I have a aftermarket one that reads the weight on the tandem axels by using how much pressure is on the airbags
tarantulapart2@reddit
Because Truckers in the United States are ripped off by everyone.
Guacmageddon@reddit
Some trucks have them on a dash that only show 1 drive axle
yes-disappointment@reddit
too expensive companies bearly want to spend money on a driver chair.
EscapeWestern9057@reddit
They'd skip on the wipers if they could
Cultural_Finger5316@reddit
We do
KajaIsForeverAlone@reddit
my international had that, but the weights were crazy off
UhOhAllWillyNilly@reddit
I had a self-weighing system. The steers always weigh the same so I always already know that weight. The dash has a gauge that tells the pressure of the drive axle airbags and I know what pressure equals 34,000# so I just have to stay under that. My trailer has a RightWeigh air scale that, once calibrated, tells me the trailer tandems’ weight. Every so often I’ll load at a shipper with a scale on-site so I can re-calibrate as necessary (and it is very, very seldom necessary). I completely trust the system and never use Cat scales and am never overweight. This saves me the time of having to scale after loading and then having to go back to get the load re-worked plus I never have to go re-weigh.
heroxoot@reddit
Big Cat scale would sue probably.
theGorillaofwallst@reddit
I don't even know how my truck is supposed to be properly weighed... 😅
ohhrangejuice@reddit
Dude, we dont even get eggs at an affordable price. Do you think wed be this far advanced in life? Nah wierds times
StructureBetter2101@reddit
The farmer I drive for has them in all his trucks.
In the US it's all about money, usually the mega carriers buy hundreds of trucks a year and they pinch pennies when building trucks. That's why CB radios and sometimes even the antennas are the drivers responsibility.
PFM66@reddit
Owner op - sure, why the hell not. Company - hell no, hell will freeze over first! Driver, don't you know we only make 5 cents profit per load?!
rockypoint28457@reddit
We have it, it's just not popular. I also haven't weighed a truck in 2 years. Oops....I did once in January because I had multiple ev gm trucks and dispatch asked me to weigh it. I was way under weight and knew it. She wanted to see it on paper though...
merix1110@reddit
Some of our trucks do have it. Internationals I've had to drive have scales on drives, unfortunately they're inaccurate as hell and usually off by a ton or two. Good to get a general idea though.
Jason_Bourne6023@reddit
.Because-Ryder-Corporation-Drivers are on bottom of wage 👎 scale & Ryder won’t spend the $-dollars to improve-their-systems.🤨🧐
fightfire28@reddit
Because this systems are only accurate within a few hundred lbs. the few hundred lbs that you really care about.
WideAd2738@reddit
Neat little feature, still hitting that CAT scale because they will go to court for me (or so they say)
S7Ninc@reddit
Here in the free market, you gotta grease palms and sue... hope this helps.
coldafsteel@reddit
Some do, its an optional extra when buying new. But you have to do calibrations and even then they aren't a "legal" weight, you still have to stop at weigh stations.
Some people use the pressure of their bag system to estimate weight and for them thats good enough.
Personally, I don't pay for the extra system because it cuts into profits and its just another system that needs maintaining.
spyder7723@reddit
It's like 200 bucks to put gauges on the truck and trailer. That pays for itself in a month.
vault151@reddit
My intertrashional has one but I’m definitely not trusting it, especially if I’m close to being overweight.
aldothetroll@reddit
I drive an International too and mine has axle load too
JRock1276@reddit
We're too cheap
Mikeg216@reddit
The whole scale game with the state is just patronage because the people that get the shitbirds elected need places to put their dumb cousins and so forth.
RedlineM5@reddit
I have a scale for mine but it's not factory. I used to do reefer so it actually got used all the time. Now with the ltl I run I'm never even close to gross.
Imaginary-Badger-119@reddit
Because..
Total_Replacement822@reddit
This is a fine example of how capitalism is paralyzing to growth in any metric outside of profit.
No_Teaching_8273@reddit
I have a 389 with a rough version of a gauge but looking at it after many years i can tell when I'm Over or not easily
GumbysDonkey@reddit
Our new trucks have weight displays for the drive axles.
NorthWestLegend300@reddit
Because compared to yall our country is gigantic, and there's alot of states that opt for the cheapest option because to make something like that mandatory is a financial burden we don't want to have. Now if our government didn't send all our money overseas it'd be a different story...
nastyzoot@reddit
We have them. They are usually just psi gauges, but you get real good at knowing what that translates to.
PhotonVideo@reddit
I drive superB on the Canadian prairies. I rely on my air gauges often. I do a lot of loading at farms
pqitpa@reddit
Last truck I drove had that setup and I could guess my weight down to 300lbs pretty accurately
redsn0w10@reddit
Some companies will pay for the Cat Scale ticket with the fuel card. My first company did that and so does my current one. If it adds more weight to the truck. How accurate it is are probably factors to why some trucks don’t. The trucks in Europe are made different than the ones here in the states.
Nice-position-6969@reddit
Those can fall out of adjustment. When we use a CAT scale and our weights are correct, and then if we are ticketed for being overweight, they fight the ticket for us.
PoetDesperate4722@reddit
I mean internationals gives you the drive tire weight. Just adding tandems can't be too much harder? Right?
TH3TH3RMIN4T0R@reddit
My old international had one but it was completely off (4k pounds off)
imadestarwars@reddit
Hell, we barely get food.
Riyeko@reddit
Can't post pics in replies in here, but most trucks fo have that option in the states.
When I hauled hopper bottom (grain) we had axle weighers on the trailer, and our truck had one.
My KWT660 had one.
My current 2022 cascadia has it as well on the dash.
SuperChaos002@reddit
Because European trucks are far ahead of North American trucks.
patheos79@reddit
I can most definitely say for the United States market . Most fleets are not going to spend the money for a fleet truck.
ReinkDesigns@reddit
Some of us do. I know all of prime tractors and trailers have scales.
CartographerWest2705@reddit
I do. It’s called air gauges and math.
MastrChang@reddit
Because we like to guess what it is by looking at the pressure, and then verify our guess at the scale. /s
Own_Clerk4772@reddit
Because we live in a country of capitalists.
shrkvch@reddit
I have noticed that in many tech sectors the U.S is choking the progress for the sake of local companies and regulations. The U.S is now at least 10-15 years behind EU and Asia in the trucking industry alone.
amazingmaple@reddit
You can buy them as an add on to just about any truck and trailer.
Xiunte@reddit
That looks amazing. I've never even seen this system before. But, I also havn't done long haul in a very long time. I don't normally have to worry about my weight at all anymore.
To answer the question, though. When it comes to a lot of things, we're far behind the rest of the world (even though we like to yell loudly about being "#1"). Give it some more years and I bet this will be standard in the US too.
qaf0v4vc0lj6@reddit
You can keep your inbuilt scales, we will keep out CAT Scale trading cards. Get rekt.
leshpar@reddit
European trucks are so much better overall. Part of why I never became a trucker was because I can't get a European style one here in America.
This is just my opinion. What do I know? I'm just a German displaced in this country as it falls apart.
SafeEast9141@reddit
Cat was $5.00 first weight and free to reweigh when I started in 1997. Yesterday I paid $14.75 first and $5.00 for reweigh.
Kilesker@reddit
Because you're all better than us. And we're all dumb over here. Yes. I said it.
Responsible_CDN_Duck@reddit
How dare someone have the odasity to state or imply America is not the greatest at everything ever and could be behind in any way....unless they are working with with POTUS.
Rayunex@reddit
Got damn freedom unless not even being used what in the holy sweet hell is 11t got damn
Dragonr0se@reddit
11 ton is 22k iirc
Cyanide612@reddit
I'll wager it's eleventy billion, Alex.
Rayunex@reddit
Run it.
DarreTheSwedeYT@reddit (OP)
Oh no what a disaster, my bad lol. About 15k pounds on the steer axle and 25k on the drive axle :D
FlatCapNorthumbrian@reddit
11 metric Tonne is 24,250.8lbs.
RoadRatzzz@reddit
Companies to cheap
Inker0@reddit
I drove an international that had it on the drives, I've yet to see another truck with something like it. Most trucks I've driven just have a bag pressure gauge and from there you can figure out a close guess to the weight on the drives in comparison to the pressure.
I'm sure it could be an option if companies that buy enough of the trucks to dictate what features they get actually bought it. But if it doesn't make the insurance rates go down its not purchased in bulk, and there isn't enough small companies/ single ops buying the other options to swing the company to offer it.
Dangerous_Ad4451@reddit
It will make truckers' lives easier which doesn't make sense.
DarreTheSwedeYT@reddit (OP)
Oh you’re totally right, we can’t have that now can we lol
Arth3r911@reddit
“When was the last time you calibrated your scale?”
-motor carrier
Another add on.
owlsleepless@reddit
Fhats 😎
Fit_Hospital2423@reddit
1) Many times trucks aren’t running that close to gross so they don’t need it 2) the rite-weigh system is expensive and has to kept in calibration, which our truck drivers aren’t of the caliber (see what I did there) to deal with that 3) air suspension guages work pretty good if you know how to use them. 4) some trucks haul the exact same amount of product in each load so it’s not necessary 5)when you are close on the limits most on board systems aren’t anywhere near accurate enough
J-Rag-@reddit
Don't know, but they should. The last 3 trucks I've driven in the last few years, none of them even had a gauge for the bags and they're all pretty new trucks. I guess we're too concerned about auto brakes for fake collisions and whatnot than we are about stuff that'll actually be beneficial for the driver.
seanfmcgee@reddit
Because American trucks are dinosaurs stuck 30 years in the past and for some reason drivers will be dragged into the 21st century kicking and screaming.
hambutbacon@reddit
There are some car haulers that have it. Some of Carmax's carriers have it.
Any_Ad_7269@reddit
The old school truckers would have a coronary. This new tangled technology making the job too easy anybody can do it.
Fit_Hospital2423@reddit
You obviously have no idea how many old school truckers use suspension air pressure guages and have been for decades.
pianodude01@reddit
Will the truck manufacturer pay my ticket if the truck displays the wrong weight and I get a ticket?
Cat scale will.
Shoo-Man-Fu@reddit
As everyone else has said, money. I drove for a company that had them on truck and trailer. When they worked, they were not super accurate. Generally, if they were with 5k of being illegal, I didn't trust them and would get an official scale ticket to cover my ass. They were nice for seeing when a mid sized load could just send without having to stop by a truck stop and fuck with scale receipts though.
hesslake@reddit
Because I haul the same exact weight everyday
mrockracing@reddit
Some trucks over here do. But for the most part it's about two things. Primarily, it's about building the truck for as cheap as possible, and then selling it for as much as they can. It's a sad reality but it's how it is.
The other reason, and the "official" reason is to save weight. American trucks are relatively lightweight. That doesn't make them handle very nice, but it does allow them to better conform to American weight restrictions.
iamiccee@reddit
I've had an analog in a Pete (fairly accurate) and a digital in an international (way off) but it's only for the drives... It never was something that cost anything extra to add.
I liked how the analog one in my Pete gave me a decent idea if I was good with my tandems or if I even really needed to weigh at all.
Conscious_Grass_853@reddit
Cause we aren’t gay.
Minimum-Jacket-705@reddit
What makes you think I don’t?
JColeTheWheelMan@reddit
Pretty much every truck i've ever had in north america has a built in scale. Suspension pressure guage on the trailer and the truck. Not helpful if you're always swapping out trailers and they can be a bit problematic if you're not loading on flat ground, but 95% of the time it's good enough.
Nozerone@reddit
Because that is an extra feature that is usually only put onto trucks when an O/O is building a brand new truck. Even then the feature is probably passed on majority because it cost weigh to much (heh, see what I did there?), and a cat scale weigh is only ~~15~~ 17 dollars. The closest thing we have to an "on board scale" as a standard feature is the air pressure gauge, which once you weigh enough times you can figure out the approx weight based off what the air gauge says. Like on my truck, so long as the drives are under 63 psi, then I'm under 34k on them. Once had a truck that I drove for so long that I could tell you how much weight was on the drives whether the gauge read 54, 60, or 66 psi. All I remember of that truck now though is that 64/65 psi was the limit before being over weight.
Slightly_Left@reddit
Money. More shit to break. Possibly more weight depending how that’s all setup/installed. Who ever owns Cat scales sure as hell lobbying against it as well lol
DarreTheSwedeYT@reddit (OP)
It gets the weight from the air suspension I believe, so yes that means you have to have air suspension front and back as well, and most of your trucks just have leaf springs in the front right?
And since all our trailers have air suspension as well we can also see the weight on those axles too, and once again that means you have to have air suspension there too, yea it gets expensive real fast lol
Baddy001@reddit
I used to have a truck with a rite weigh scale on the truck and trailer. I miss that but what I do it's not really necessary
Noreallyjusteatit@reddit
Because freedom