- Combining weights.
Do we have to issue individual weight certificates for each container or can we combine the weights for a booking on one certificate?
Answer: Weights from a booking may be combined and certified on one certificate.
- Removing some grain weight
This is related to the question about removing grain from a container. If you allow the shipper to remove a small amount of grain from a container how would you adjust the official weight?
Answer: Weigh the container before and after the grain was removed and subtract the discharged weight amount from the net weight of the container. Include supplemental documentation (e.g., weight ticket) and information concerning the events with the weight certificate.
- Bulkhead tare weight
At the rear doors of containers coopering materials (e.g., wood, cardboard), commonly referred to as bulkheads, are set in place to prevent the grain from spilling from the back when the doors are opened. Not all containers have the same configuration of bulkhead materials set in place. How do we establish tare weights on containers with bulkhead materials?
Answer: Official personnel are responsible for insuring the weight of the container bulkhead is included in the tare weight of the container. The bulkhead material can be weighed with each empty container, or official personnel can calculate a standard weight for the bulkhead and add that amount to the weight of the empty container. When bulkheads are weighed separately, official personnel must calculate a weight for each bulkhead configuration (by facility) each time materials are replenished and when official personnel believe weight may have changed. The process involves weighing one empty container with and without one bulkhead on the FGIS approved on-site vehicle scale. The weight, configuration, and date must be documented each time bulkhead weight is calculated. Documentation can be kept in the local scale record log book or other documentation. Official personnel must show the addition of the bulkhead weight to the empty container (tare) weight on each scale ticket weight record.
- Scale testing responsibility
Who is responsible for testing scales at container loading facilities?
Answer: Scale testing is performed by the local FGIS or FGIS approved scale specialist.
- Tare weight by truck
A shipper uses multiple trucks and drivers to jockey around containers from the scale to loading facility and back to the scale. Can the shipper establish a preset tare weight for their trucks and drivers so that they don’t have to unhook the container when it is weighed empty and then full?
Answer: No. If different trucks are used then the containers must be detached from the trucks when they are weighed empty then full. If the same truck is used for transporting the container for the tare and gross weights then the inspection agency should also establish a procedure to weigh the load without the drivers.
- gym weights
A container loader requiring Class X weights is requesting the weight of the bulkhead be replaced by gym weights inside each empty container instead of denoting a standard bulkhead tare on each scale ticket. The reason for this request is the container yard does not want any handwritten corrections on scale tickets because of potential for overweight containers being shipped. Can we compensate for the missing bulkhead weight on empty containers by placing gym or another type of identified weight inside empty containers before each is weighed?
Answer: NO. Bulkhead material can be weighed with each empty container or official personnel can calculate a standard weight for the bulkhead and add that tare weight to the tare weight of each empty container. (refer to Q & A #3)
- Expired approval decals
How far past the approval decal expiration date may we continue to use a scale for class x weights?
Answer: Official personnel shall not use any scale for class x weighing having an expired approval decal without approval from the FGIS Field Office Manager responsible for the area.
- Erroneous scale tickets vehicle scales
What should be done with scale tickets when the gross or tare weight is recorded out of cycle, or incorrectly weighed requiring placing the scale into manual mode to finish finding the net weight? E.G., the weigher takes two tare weights consecutively.
Answer: The official weigher may correct and initial the scale ticket by lining through the incorrect information and adding the correct information. If the applicant requires a new unblemished printed record of the weighment and a new scale ticket is printed by manually entering the weight from the keyboard or weighing the container in manual mode, INITIAL EACH PHASE OF THE WEIGHING (gross and tare). (Scale design requirements require that the printed tape show “manual weight” or “manual wt” or similar designation when a scale operates out of normal automatic operation). File erroneous scale tickets with the agency’s copy of the weight certificate along with the new scale ticket.
- Computer software generated bulkhead material weight
Can a computer software program be used to add the weight of the bulkhead material to the tare weight of the container?
Answer: No, unless the feature to provide the weight has been evaluated through the type approval process by a National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP) laboratory. Then this feature would have to be listed on the NTEP Certificate of Conformance for the software. The amount of weight for the material that is added to the tare must appear on the scale ticket or tape.
Publication Date
10/17/2018