Dear IFCA Retail Members:  

 

Last spring an issue arose when a grain elevator in Illinois was told by a state scale inspector that their vehicle scales would not be approved (red tagged) unless the company installed a remote readout within three months.  We found this very unusual since the scale had been approved by the Illinois Department of Agriculture for years.  A “General User Requirement” found in Handbook 44 was cited as the reason for this demand.  It is our understanding that this specific “General User Requirement” has been on the books for at least thirty years and perhaps as long as fifty or more years.  

 

The Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association along with other associations whose members are impacted by this interpretation met with the staff at the IDA Bureau of Weights & Measures on a couple of occasions.  It is IDA's opinion that a display showing the weight of the vehicle on the scales must be easily read from the cab of the truck or the seat of the tractor.  In some situations this can require extensive retrofitting and in others it may be as simple as installing an outside display.  It if IFCA's position that this requirement in Handbook 44 can be accommodated by providing notice that the customer is welcome to come inside the scale house to view product being weighed if they desire.   

 

We wanted to get a better handle on the situation throughout the state so we developed a survey in conjunction with the Grain & Feed Association, Aggregate Producers and Asphalt Association to determine the possible extent of this requirement on our members.  To get an accurate picture, we need broad participation.  The survey is designed to capture the information on vehicle scales at each facility.  If you choose to complete it for your entire company, please let your facility managers know so there is no double counting of scales.

 

This nine question survey is intended to help IFCA get a better understanding of the various situations around the state of Illinois.  Should you need to collect information prior to completing the survey we have attached a PDF so you can review it and have the appropriate information ready.

 

Your participation by Friday, January 8 is greatly appreciated!                

 

Click Here to take the survey.

 

If you have any questions please call KJ or Jean; thanks you in advance for taking the survey!