Vehicle scales play a vital role in ensuring safety, compliance, and efficiency across industries such as haulage, construction, waste management, agriculture, and logistics. Two of the most common vehicle weighing solutions are weighbridges and portable axle scales.
This article explains the key differences between weighbridges and portable axle scales, how each works, and which option is best suited to different business needs.
What Are Vehicle Scales?
Vehicle scales are systems designed to measure the weight of vehicles, either as a total gross weight or by individual axle loads. Accurate vehicle weighing helps businesses:
- Prevent overloading
- Comply with legal weight limits
- Improve safety
- Track materials and payloads accurately
The most widely used vehicle scales are fixed weighbridges and portable axle scales.
What Is a Weighbridge?
A weighbridge is a fixed vehicle scale installed permanently at a site. Vehicles drive fully onto the platform to obtain a complete gross vehicle weight (GVW).
Key Features of Weighbridges
- Permanent installation (pit or surface mounted)
- Designed for frequent, high-volume weighing
- Suitable for HGVs, rigid trucks, agricultural vehicles, and plant
- Can be legal-for-trade approved
Advantages of Weighbridges
- High accuracy and repeatability
- Fast weighing for high traffic volumes
- Suitable for trade, billing, and enforcement
- Can integrate with software, printers, and access control systems
Limitations of Weighbridges
- Higher upfront cost
- Requires groundwork and site preparation
- Fixed to one location
What Are Portable Axle Scales?
Portable axle scales measure the weight of each axle as a vehicle drives or stops on the scale. Total vehicle weight is calculated by adding individual axle loads.
Key Features of Portable Axle Scales
- Lightweight and transportable
- Quick to deploy on different sites
- Designed for static or low-speed weighing
- Suitable for temporary or mobile operations
Advantages of Portable Axle Scales
- Flexible and mobile
- Lower initial cost
- Minimal site preparation required
- Ideal for spot checks and overload prevention
Limitations of Portable Axle Scales
- Slower process for full vehicle weighing
- Accuracy depends on surface conditions
- Not always legal-for-trade
- Less suitable for high-volume operations
Weighbridges vs Portable Axle Scales: Key Differences
|
Feature |
Weighbridge |
Portable Axle Scales |
|
Installation |
Permanent |
Temporary / mobile |
|
Weighing Method |
Full vehicle |
Individual axles |
|
Accuracy |
Very high |
High (surface dependent) |
|
Throughput |
High |
Moderate |
|
Legal-for-Trade |
Yes (certified) |
Sometimes (model dependent) |
|
Best Use |
Trade & billing |
Compliance checks |
Which Is Right for Your Business?
Choose a Weighbridge If:
- You weigh vehicles frequently
- Weights are used for billing or trade
- You operate from a fixed location
- High accuracy and throughput are essential
Choose Portable Axle Scales If:
- You need a flexible, mobile solution
- You operate across multiple or temporary sites
- You want to prevent overloading
- Full weighbridge installation is not practical
Many businesses use both systems to balance permanent weighing and mobile compliance checks.
Industry Applications
Haulage & Logistics
- Weighbridges for depot operations
- Axle scales for on-site overload checks
Construction & Quarries
- Axle scales for temporary sites
- Weighbridges for material control
Waste & Recycling
- Weighbridges for trade weighing
- Portable scales for remote locations
Agriculture
- Weighbridges for bulk weighing
- Axle scales for field or yard checks
Accuracy, Calibration, and Compliance
Both weighbridges and axle scales require regular calibration and servicing to maintain accuracy.
- Legal-for-trade applications require certified verification
- Portable scales should only be used within manufacturer guidelines
- Proper training improves repeatability and reliability
Final Thoughts
Weighbridges and portable axle scales both play an important role in vehicle weighing. Weighbridges provide permanent, high-accuracy weighing for trade and billing, while portable axle scales offer flexibility and convenience for mobile or temporary operations.
Choosing the right solution depends on your weighing frequency, compliance requirements, site conditions, and budget. Working with an experienced weighing equipment supplier ensures you select the most effective system for your business.