The Weigh-In
How is your shipment weighed?
The Weight Scale- Before the truck arrives at your home, the driver is required to weigh the truck on which your goods are to be transported upon. This is called a tare weight. There may or may not be other shipments on the truck at that time, but it will not affect the actual weight of your shipment if there are. After all your goods are loaded onto the truck, they are required to get a gross weight. This is the total weight of the truck with all your goods on it. The difference between the gross weight and the tare weight is the net weight of your shipment.
IMPORTANT:
Make sure you are present for the truck weigh-in for both the tare and gross weights. If you cannot be present at the truck weigh-in at the origin, you have the right to request a reweigh at the destination. The weight station is required to display the time, date, and place of the weighing, as well as the I.D. number of the truck, and must be signed by the person performing the weighing. You must be given a copy of the weight tickets when receiving the freight bill of your transportation charges.
**Be sure to make arrangements with your mover to meet the truck at the weight scale prior to your moving day.
For example 42,600 lbs. - gross weight -35,000 lbs.- tare weight 7,260 lbs. - net weight (actual weight of shipment)
Why Should you be present at weigh-in?
If you do nothing else, BE THERE FOR BOTH WEIGH-INS!
This is were the movers can make up for all the discounts and free supplies or services that they gave up to get your move. Many of these drivers are masters at manipulating weights, and there are really so many ways of doing it.
Since the Interstate Commerce Commission ceased regulating the moving industry, it seems to be open season on the moving customer and as a result, weight tampering has become a favorite of the movers. If you donít know what to look for the devious mover can add hundreds if not thousands of pounds to your shipment as you watch and you may never be the wiser. Lets go step by step on what to look out for during the weigh-in process..
STEP #1 Talk with the mover the day prior to the agreed pick up date and tell him that you would like to observe the weigh-in. Make arrangements to meet the truck at a CERTIFIED SCALE.
STEP #2 When the truck arrives at the scale take note that ALL the wheels of the truck or tractor/trailer are on the scale platform. If even one wheel is slightly off the platform it can change the weight dramatically. Check to see that nobody is in the truck or tractor/trailer.
STEP #3 Go into the scale room with the driver. Most scales are computerized and the weight master will simply punch the ticket like a time clock.older scales are viewed and the weight master will write the weight onto the weight ticket, make sure that you are satisfied with the weight that is written on the weight ticket. At this time ask the weight master their hours of operation.
STEP #4 Follow the truck to your residence, do not let him out of your sight. It is a favorite of a lot of drivers to leave the scale and then fill up with gas or diesel fuel before getting to your residence. I know one driver with 500-gallon tanks and at approximately 7 pounds per gallon, which can add a hefty amount to your moving bill.
STEP #5 While the loading is in process, make sure that only your goods go onto the truck. Its another favorite of some drivers to tell you that they called the company to bring over some additional packing material or equipment with which they need to load your shipment. A small truck delivering materials pulls up to the truck that is loading, and without your knowledge, could secretly slip barbell weights though one of the many doors of the truck (1,000 pounds of weight is not really hard to hide). Be sure to observe the small delivery truck as it unloads the materials needed for your move.
STEP #6 When loading has been completed FOLLOW THE DRIVER back to the scale and follow step #2 & step #3 as the driver gets his gross weight. Another favorite of some drivers is to tell you that they have missed the scale and they will have to get the gross weight in the morning. You will know this to be true or not because you should know their hours of operation. Under no circumstance do you let him talk you into going to a different scale. It is VERY IMPORTANT to make sure that both the tare and gross weight are obtained at the same scale, as scales will vary.
I know for a fact that one drivers SOP (standard operating procedure) was to get his tare weight at one scale than go to a different scale for his gross weight. He knew that the first scale consistently weighed him in at approximately 500 pounds less than the second did. By doing this, he added approximately 500 pounds to each shipment he weighed in this manner.
If it becomes necessary for you to meet the driver at the scale the following morning for whatever reason, you must do the following:
1) Ask the driver to show you the fuel gauge in the truck and write down what the fuel gauge indicates. If for any reason the driver tells you that the fuel gauge is inoperable, ask him to dip the tanks for you. Dipping is a very simple procedure, the driver merely puts a stick into the fuel tank and can visually tell how much fuel is in the tank.
2) Ask the driver to show you the space that is left in the trailer.
3) Mark down the license plate number of the truck or tractor/trailer.
When you meet the driver the following morning, in addition to following steps #2 & #3 you must first re-check to make sure it is the same truck or tractor and trailer as the one from day prior. If the driver uses a different truck at the gross weigh-in, it can mean several thousand pounds difference. You must check to make sure that fuel was not added to the truck, and look to assure nothing else was added inside.
If you have any doubts at all about the actual weight or if you are not satisfied for any reason, request a re-weight at destination. (See section on re-weight). |
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