The Importance of Certified Scale Tickets
Paige Rauhut, Cycla Accounting Specialist
Within the used clothing and textile recycling industry the use of certified scale tickets play a crucial role in ensuring accurate billing. By doing so, this supports both parties and leads to higher levels of accuracy. Often, drivers are to scale the trailer empty before picking up the materials and then scale the heavy upon completion of loading. Many locations have a scale and weigh their materials but scales can easily become unbalanced and will need to be recalibrated. This makes the use of certified scale tickets incredibly important.
While weights from a store or warehouse are helpful, having certified scale tickets offers a few additional benefits. First, scale tickets ensure that the load is within legal limits as each axle must be within specific weights and failing to comply can result in the driver receiving tickets and the load needing to be reworked which in turn delays the load. Second, the scale tickets are certified which ensures reliability and accuracy. Unlike stores and warehouses, the scales are recalibrated frequently and checked for precision. Third, scale tickets acquired from CAT Scales are verified and are held to a high standard within the freight industry. CAT Scales backs their scale tickets and will pay fines and testify in court if necessary. This provides a higher trust level that their scales are reliable and accurate. While scale tickets must be requested through the carrier and are an additional cost, the benefits of a certified scale greatly outweighs the costs.
There are a few features that scale tickets must include to be considered reliable and correct. Each scale ticket should include a ticket number which is unique to each scale ticket and cannot be duplicated. The scale ticket should also include the date, location and time of the weigh. These are all important identification factors that help validate the ticket. Other important information on the scale ticket includes the company name of the carrier, tractor number, trailer number and signature of the weight master for that day and location. Each scale ticket should also have a stamp or embossing located somewhere on it. Each aspect on the scale ticket provides specific details necessary to consider the ticket precise and accurate. A helpful tool provided by CAT Scales is the ability to validate and get copies of scale tickets via their website. Below is the link to CAT Scales.
Other important documentation for loads includes the Bill of Lading or the BOL. The BOL provides specific details of the load which the carrier takes from the supplier to the customer. The BOL often includes the exact details of the load with weights of each item, the date, the seal number, trailer number and any other information needed for both parties involved. Having the proper documentation and necessary scale tickets ensure that delivery and billing is done in the most efficient and effective way possible. This ensures each party involved receives a fair and unbiased exchange.