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Location (site surroundings)
One of the most important decisions you will make regarding your truck scale is where it will be located. Placing your scale in the wrong place can negatively affect your weighing efficiency, flow of traffic and could create safety issues. At this point you will need all the input from the various people that your new scale will impinge upon.
FOUNDATION
Once you have decided on where to locate your new scale, you will then decide on what type of foundation. The foundation is the most important part of your scale. If the foundation is not constructed properly or per the certified foundation drawing, your scale foundation could move which throws the scale out of calibration. Continued foundation movement renders your scale inoperable, requiring costly foundation repairs.
Piers or Slab
Pier Type Foundation
If you choose an above ground type scale then you will have a few foundation type options. One such option is that of an isolated pier type foundation, that has piers located at every section of the scale. This type foundation is the least expensive of all foundations, and it is typically designed for ground that has a soil bearing pressure of at least 3000 pounds per square foot (PSF)
Deep Pier Type Foundation
If you are located in the northern areas of the country, you may need to locate part of your foundation below the frost line. The Deep Pier type foundation is designed to eliminate the negative effects that freeze-thaw problems create for foundations. Similar to the pier type foundation, the deep pier foundation also requires 3,000 psf bearing pressure.
Full Slab Foundation
Another type of foundation is that of a full slab. A full slab is a continuous or monolithic pour of concrete that is the entire length of the scale. This type of foundations is the second cost effective option and is designed for ground that has a soil bearing pressure of at least 1500 PSF.
 If you are installing a truck scale in a pit, then you will need a pit type foundation. The pit foundations come in various depths from 2'-0" to 6'-0". Determine which depth pit best fit your needs and meets all federal, state and local requirements.
Approaches and Ramps
Ramps
Per H-44 the approaches for any type of NTEP approved, legal for trade truck scale shall be 10' long, flat, level, the width of the scale and constructed of concrete. Per H-44 the Ramps plus the approach will be at least half as long as the scale, but no more than 40'. On a 70' long scale, the ramps will be a minimum of 25' long and the approaches will be 10' long for a total of 35', which is half the length of a 70' scale. This equates to 140' of total real estate needed to install a 70' long above ground truck scale.
Scale House
The scale house should be located near the scale and accommodate all peripheral equipment needed, such as computer, printer, indicator, and of course AC power. The scale operator should be able to accomplish the following tasks from the scale house:
Identify Trucks and Drivers
Identify drivers and be able to communicate with them
Ensure that entire truck is on the scale
Control the traffic flow
Examine payload
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Turning Radius Information
from truckalignment.com
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If you are installing a truck scale in a pit, then you will need a pit type foundation. The pit foundations come in various depths from 2'-0" to 6'-0". Determine which depth pit best fit your needs and meets all federal, state and local requirements.