Truck Scales for Sale: Axle Scales, Weigh Pads and Platform Options Compared
Updated October 15, 2026
The short answer: most businesses shopping for truck scales choose between three options: a permanent full-length truck scale, a portable axle scale, or a set of wheel weigh pads. Portable axle scales and weigh pads cost far less and need no concrete pit or foundation. They're the practical way to check truck and axle weights at your own yard. Full-length truck scales are custom-built installations, usually certified for selling by weight.
Liberty Scales sells the portable side of that market: axle scales, weigh pad systems and LS-934 truck platform scales, from $3,218.99. None of these models is NTEP certified, so they're built for checking loads, not for selling by weight. The sections below cover how each option works, the sizes and prices, and how to choose.
Truck scale options at a glance
| Option | How it weighs | Installation | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-length truck scale (weighbridge) | The whole truck at once on one long deck | Permanent, on a concrete foundation or in a pit; site work and inspection | Selling or buying by weight at high volume (quarries, scrap yards, grain) |
| Truck platform scale (LS-934) | A truck or trailer on a 10' to 30' platform with ramps | Above ground on a level surface | Box trucks, trailers and cargo at warehouses and yards |
| Portable axle scale (LS-60KX, LS-80KX) | One axle (two wheels) at a time; the indicator adds the axles together | Portable bridges with ramps; no pit | Checking axle loads and gross weight at a shipping yard |
| Wheel weigh pads (LS-928) | Pads under each wheel; 4 or 6 pads weigh a whole axle group at once | Portable; set out where needed | Mobile weighing, fleets, aircraft and equipment |
A full-length truck scale is a construction project as much as a purchase: it needs a foundation or pit, a level approach, and inspection before trade use. If you mainly need to know whether a load is legal before it leaves, a portable system gets you there at a fraction of the cost.
How portable axle weighing works
With an axle scale, the truck drives onto two weigh bridges, one under each side, and stops so one axle sits on the scale. The indicator records that axle, the driver pulls forward to the next axle, and the indicator adds them up for the gross weight. Weigh pad systems work the same way with a pad under each wheel. A set of 4 or 6 pads can weigh a whole axle group, or a light vehicle, in one go.
Portable scales give good results when the truck stays level and steady:
- Use firm, level ground. A slope shifts weight between axles and skews the totals.
- Keep the truck level. Use the ramps, and put matching spacer mats under wheels that aren't on a pad, so no axle sits higher than the others.
- Stop fully before reading. Roll on slowly, stop, and wait for a steady reading. Don't brake hard on the scale.
- Zero first. Zero the indicator with nothing on the scale before each truck.
- Stay within capacity. Check the per-axle or per-pad rating against your heaviest axle, and never exceed it.
For model-by-model details, see our portable truck and axle scale guide and our guide to wireless weigh pads.
Why check axle weights
An overloaded axle can be fined even when the truck's gross weight is under the limit. On the Interstate system, federal rules (23 CFR 658.17) set these limits:
| Federal limit | Maximum |
|---|---|
| Gross vehicle weight | 80,000 lb |
| Single axle | 20,000 lb |
| Tandem axle | 34,000 lb |
| Axle groups | Limited by the federal bridge formula, based on axle count and spacing |
States set their own limits on other roads and issue overweight permits, so check your state's rules for your routes. A portable scale at your yard lets you catch an overloaded axle and re-balance the load before the truck leaves, rather than at a weigh station.
Truck scale sizes and capacities
Sizes and capacities of the truck scales we carry, from the product pages:
- LS-934 truck platform scale: 10' x 10' (60,000 lb x 10 lb), 15' x 10' (75,000 lb), 20' x 10' (100,000 lb x 20 lb) and 30' x 10' (100,000 lb x 20 lb).
- LS-60KX axle scale: 7' bridges, 60,000 lb per axle with 2 bridges or 120,000 lb with 4.
- LS-80KX axle scale: 12' bridges, 80,000 lb per axle with 2 bridges or 160,000 lb with 4. Wired and wireless versions.
- LS-928 weigh pads: 16" x 24", 17" x 28" and 20" x 36" pad surfaces, in 2, 4 or 6 pad systems from 50,000 lb up to 240,000 lb total.
Full-length truck scales for tractor-trailers are usually around 70 to 80 feet long. That length, plus the foundation, is a big part of why they cost so much more.
Truck scale prices
Prices are from libertyscales.com on October 15, 2026. Each system includes an indicator; see the product page for what's in the box.
| Model | Configuration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| LS-928-1624 weigh pads | 2, 4 or 6 pads; 50,000 to 150,000 lb | $3,218.99 to $7,703.99 |
| LS-928-W wireless weigh pads | 2, 4 or 6 pads; 50,000 to 150,000 lb | $3,448.99 to $9,773.99 |
| LS-928-1728 weigh pads | 2, 4 or 6 pads; 50,000 to 150,000 lb | $3,448.99 to $9,198.99 |
| LS-928-2036 weigh pads | 2, 4 or 6 pads; 80,000 to 240,000 lb | $5,748.99 to $16,672.99 |
| LS-928-HD weigh pads | 2, 4 or 6 pads; 80,000 to 240,000 lb | $5,748.99 to $17,247.99 |
| LS-60KX axle scale | 2 or 4 bridges; 60,000 or 120,000 lb | $5,748.99 to $10,347.99 |
| LS-80KX axle scale | 2 or 4 bridges; 80,000 or 160,000 lb | $8,048.99 to $15,868.99 |
| LS-934 truck platform scale | 10' to 30' long; 60,000 to 100,000 lb | $11,999 to $22,999 |
When you need a legal-for-trade truck scale
If a truck weight sets a price you charge or pay, as when you buy scrap, sell aggregate or bill freight by weight, most states require a legal-for-trade scale. That means an NTEP-certified model, installed and then inspected and sealed by your state or local weights and measures office.
The axle scales, weigh pads and platform scales above are not NTEP certified. Use them for load checks, axle balancing and internal records, not for weights that set a price. Our NTEP certification guide explains what certification covers. For any trade installation, work with a qualified scale technician and your state weights and measures office.
How to buy a truck scale: 6 questions
- Will the weight set a price? If yes, you need a legal-for-trade scale. If it's for load checks and records, a portable system fits.
- What's your heaviest axle? Choose a per-axle or per-pad capacity comfortably above it.
- What do you weigh? Semi trucks and trailers suit axle scales or a 4 to 6 pad system. Box trucks and cargo suit the LS-934 platform. Small vehicles and aircraft suit weigh pads.
- Do you need to move it? Weigh pads travel easily; axle bridges and platforms usually stay at one site.
- Where will it sit? Plan for firm, level ground with room for the truck to roll on and off straight.
- What records do you need? Check the indicator for printing, accumulating axle totals and wireless options.
Not sure which fits? Contact our team or call (661) 888-1919 with your vehicle types and heaviest axle loads, and we'll suggest a setup.
Truck scale FAQ
What is the difference between a truck scale and an axle scale?
A full-length truck scale weighs the whole vehicle at once on one long deck. An axle scale weighs one axle at a time, and the indicator adds the axles together for a gross weight.
How much does a truck scale cost?
As of October 15, 2026, Liberty portable weigh pad systems start at $3,218.99, axle scales at $5,748.99 and LS-934 truck platform scales at $11,999. A full-length truck scale also needs foundation work and installation.
What size truck scale do I need?
Size it to your heaviest axle and your vehicles. For semi trucks, check per-axle capacity and the bridge or pad size against your tire width and axle spacing.
Can I use portable axle scales or weigh pads to sell by weight?
Only if the model is NTEP certified and your state has inspected and sealed it. The Liberty axle scales, weigh pads and LS-934 platforms are not NTEP certified, so they are for load checks and records.
How do I get accurate readings from a portable axle scale?
Set up on firm, level ground, keep the truck level with ramps or spacer mats, zero the indicator first, and stop fully on the scale before reading.