They’re also used to warn vehicles approaching a curve or a bridge that their speed or weight is unsafe.

For instance, they can be used to track the weights of vehicles entering and leaving parking garages to determine the total load on the parking structure. WIM scales are also being used to improve our safety. Still other applications include weighing trucks entering and leaving sea ports. For example, this type of WIM scale is used in mines to weigh ore trucks on their way to the crusher. These scales are beginning to find use in other applications. WIM scales, like Cardinal Scale’s QWIM series, are commonly used to identify over weight commercial vehicles on mainline state and interstate highways for enforcement static weighing as well as sorting vehicles entering highway weigh stations returning those with legal weights to the interstate highway. Other industries are now taking note of the advantages offered by this technology and are beginning to use WIM scales in different applications. Until recently, the vast majority of WIM scales were used in monitoring commercial traffic without impeding traffic flow. Increased pressure to identify overloaded commercial vehicles on our nation’s highways along with advancements in technology and the move to institute legal metrology performance standards will result in the increased use of in-motion vehicle or WIM scales. (800) Vehicle Scales Growing in Popularity Cardinal Scale is a US company based in Webb City, Missouri supplying scales and services throughout the United States and overseas since 1950. Since then Cardinal Scale has installed seven virtual weigh stations in the state of Maryland, five of which are in full operation and two are nearing completion.Ĭardinal Scale Manufacturing Company is a truck scale manufacturer and highway traffic management technology company specializing in the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) industry. With the help of Xerox, the first site was installed on Route 32 in 2011 and was immediately successful. In 2002, Cardinal Scale began working with the University of Maryland and the MDSHA to develop a virtual weigh station to fit their state’s highway needs. It operates unmanned and has no notable impact on traffic flow for optimal efficiency. This method captures data of passing trucks without the need to exit the highway or even reduce speed. The system will instantly alert law enforcement of any violations by displaying a diagram of the truck’s axle weights along with other information.Ĭardinal Scale’s virtual weigh stations are designed to be minimally invasive using small Kistler LINEAS quartz sensors embedded in the road surface. This information can be viewed from any computer via cellular connection in real time.Ĭardinal Scale’s virtual weigh stations capture data including a picture of the moving vehicle, individual axle and gross weights, axle spacing, vehicle classification, speed, over-height violations, out-of-balance conditions, license plate, and DOT information, as well as time and date. The data systems will provide 24-hour information from each installation point on Maryland’s highways and transmit it wirelessly within seconds. This will allow the MDSHA to enforce commercial vehicle regulations and to collect traffic data. Cardinal Scale is using the company’s quartz sensor weigh-in-motion (QWIM) technology to screen trucks based on weights, dimensions, and credentials. The contract includes Cardinal Scale’s Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) vehicle scale equipment, installation, software, maintenance, and on-call services. Weigh-In-Motion collaboration between Cardinal Scale Manufacturing Company, Xerox, and MDSHA to collect traffic data.Ĭardinal Scale Manufacturing Company has been awarded a $2.7 million contract in collaboration with Xerox and the Maryland State Highway Administration (MDSHA) to provide virtual weigh stations and continued maintenance for 13 additional sites in the state of Maryland throughout the next three years. Maryland State Highway Administration Utilizes Cardinal Scale’s Weigh-In-Motion Products and Services

Mo weigh stations