A medium-duty truck carrying construction materials was stopped at the tollbooth. A fine was imposed apart from the usual toll fee. The officials informed the driver that the excess load may have to be offloaded to conform to transport regulations. Such instances can increase the cost of transportation and operational efficiency of the construction company.

Weighing at Toll Booths

Weighbridges are installed at toll booths that can weigh light vehicles, medium-duty trucks, and heavy trucks, trailers, and lorries. 

Types of Weighbridges

There are two types of weighbridges used in toll booths. One is static and the other is dynamic. The static weighbridge requires the vehicles to stop for weighing. These weighbridges are suited for low-traffic toll booths.

Weigh-in Motion: For toll booths with heavy traffic, dynamic weigh-in motion weighbridges are ideal. The vehicle is weighed while moving at slow speed. This feature ensures that there is no traffic congestion caused by weighing. The weighbridge system automatically directs the vehicle onto the platform for weighing. 

Weigh Pads : These can be easily set up and taken to different toll booths as required. 

Weighing Process

Cameras and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems equip weighbridges, aiding in the identification of vehicles arriving at the toll booth. These vehicles have radio frequency identification (RFID) tags that contain essential information, including the class of vehicle, registration, and the owner’s name and address.

Storage of Data

The weighing data captured at the toll booth is stored at central servers for access. As each vehicle has a permissible weight limit, overloaded vehicles are identified and flagged for penalties. 

Penalties

The transport authorities impose fines on overloaded vehicles. the offense is repeated, additional fines are imposed. The accumulation of penalties can reduce the cost-effectiveness and erode the profitability of the enterprise. 

Importance of Weighing at Tolls

Overloading of vehicles causes damage not only to vehicles in terms of more wear and tear but also causes damage to road surfaces and bridges. Weighbridges help prevent damage to vehicles and road infrastructure.

Overloaded vehicles are prone to accidents, which may cause injury or death and damage to property. The economic costs of overloaded vehicles are very high in a fast-growing economy. 

In conclusion, it can be stated that weighbridges set up in toll booths help prevent overloading of vehicles and reduce the possibility of accidents and damage to vehicles and road infrastructure. It helps both the individual enterprise and the economy by protecting the roads and bridges vital for transportation. 

Essae Digitronics is the leading manufacturer of various types of weighbridges in India. We provide weighing solutions for toll booths, which improves the efficiency and gatekeeping function of transport authorities at important destinations.