Axle Load Monitoring: How to Prevent Truck Overloading and Fines
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An overloaded truck is a risk to everyone. It takes longer to brake, wears tyres and suspension faster, damages roads and can bring heavy fines and permit problems. Yet most operators only find out the true weight at a weighbridge, when it’s too late to fix. On-board axle load monitoring shows the load while the truck is being loaded.
Why overloading happens
Loaders estimate weight by eye or by volume
Load density varies (wet sand, ore, grain)
Weight is spread unevenly, overloading one axle even when the total is legal
Pressure to carry more per trip
How axle load sensors work
Sensors mounted on the suspension or axle measure how much it deflects under load. After calibration with known weights, the readings convert to load per axle. The sensor sends data to the vehicle’s tracker, which reports it to the fleet platform with location and time.
Atlanta’s ASH-100 load sensor has an RS-485 (CAN) output for direct connection to trackers, an IP67 rating and a –40 °C to +85 °C operating range for rugged conditions. Connect it to a tracker with RS485, such as the ATL-440.
Note for Fleet Managers: the ASH-100 specification on the website lists “measured angles –40° to +40°”, which matches an angle/inclination sensor. Confirm with product engineering how the ASH-100 measures axle load, and correct the product page or this article.
What you can do with load data
Alert at loading: warn the loader before the truck leaves overweight
Balance axles: see which axle is carrying too much
Prove compliance to customers, authorities and insurers
Track payload per trip for billing and productivity
Detect unauthorised loading or unloading away from approved sites
Industries that benefit most
Mining and minerals haulage, construction materials, agriculture, waste collection and bulk logistics. Atlanta has supplied solutions for vehicles carrying minerals since 2017.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How accurate are on-board load sensors? Accuracy depends on the sensor and calibration. Calibrate with a certified weighbridge after installation.
Do I still need a weighbridge? Yes, for official weighing and calibration. On-board sensors help you load correctly before reaching it.
Can load data be sent to a government system? Where a regulation requires it, load data can be pushed together with tracking data through integration.
Does it work on trailers? Yes, sensors can be fitted to trailer axles and connected to the trailer’s tracker.
Next step: contact us to plan load monitoring for your vehicle types.
Related reading: OBD-II vs J1939 telematics · Fleet compliance by country
Co-Founder at Atlanta Systems Pvt. Ltd., spearheading large-scale global telematics supply chains, commercial fleet compliance deployments, and OEM electronics manufacturing partnerships.
