What does a scale operator do?
Scale Operators are responsible for the operations of a material or vehicle weighing process. Their duties include weighing vehicles, sampling of inbound materials, maintaining inbound and outbound scaling documentation, reviewing loads and paperwork for inbound and outbound vehicles, and upkeeping scale house and scales. They are also responsible for loading and unloading product, writing daily progress reports as well as maintaining spreadsheets and logs. A Scale Operator must know about dealing with computerized scale systems.
Scale operator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real scale operator resumes:
- Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
- Enter payroll accurately and run weekly reports timely.
- Check loads (trucks) for size of product, correct PPE.
- Detail orient with good math skills.
- Write citations for different NC state laws.
- Scale operator, loading a weighting asphalt trucks.
- Coordinate using walk-e-talkies and CB radios with bulk handling and truck drivers.
- Perform MSHA training to all person's to whom come on property.
- Receive and refer routine and emergency telephone calls, CB and radio transmissions.
- Coordinate and cooperate with the respective crop managers on the harvest reports/schedule and shipping.
- Insure all safety briefings and regulations are given and follow, PPE provide if necessary.
- Help customers on phone with questions with landscaping materials, base materials, asphalt, and concrete.
- Assist in accounts payable, receivable, income and expense reports, payroll and filing when require.
- Utilize the SAI computer program to weigh in, weigh out, and pay customers for product.
- Start outside in the landfill opening and closing trucks and end up in the office as a scale clerk
Scale operator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 31% of Scale Operators are proficient in Customer Service, Basic Math, and Math. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Detail oriented, and Math skills.
We break down the percentage of Scale Operators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 31%
Provided customer service to residential and commercial customers, contractors and subcontracted trash haulers.
- Basic Math, 8%
Operate scale, being able to use basic math skills for truck weight.
- Math, 7%
Count out correct change using simple math.
- Scale Tickets, 7%
Obtain in bound and out bound truck weights, data entry of scale tickets, compile data for daily reports
- Outbound Trucks, 6%
Scaled in and key in inbound and outbound trucks to determine the weight of the loads on each truck.
- Asphalt, 5%
Loaded, weighed, and prepared tickets for trucks hauling asphalt to various jobs which included the I-15 Core Project.
Common skills that a scale operator uses to do their job include "customer service," "basic math," and "math." You can find details on the most important scale operator responsibilities below.
Customer-service skills. The most essential soft skill for a scale operator to carry out their responsibilities is customer-service skills. This skill is important for the role because "material recording clerks may interact with customers in order to respond to problems or complaints." Additionally, a scale operator resume shows how their duties depend on customer-service skills: "write tickets for sand customers, weight the trucks, print tickets for customers, collect money from customers. "
Detail oriented. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling scale operator duties is detail oriented. The role rewards competence in this skill because "material and product inspecting clerks must pay attention to detail when checking items for defects, some of which are small and difficult to spot." According to a scale operator resume, here's how scale operators can utilize detail oriented in their job responsibilities: "detail oriented with good math skills. "
Math skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of scale operators is math skills. This skill is critical to many everyday scale operator duties, as "material recording clerks may need to calculate shipping costs or take measurements." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "count out correct change using simple math. "
Communication skills. For certain scale operator responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "communication skills." The day-to-day duties of a scale operator rely on this skill, as "material recording clerks are frequently in contact with suppliers, vendors, or managers and need to convey their company’s needs effectively." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what scale operators do: "required excellent verbal and written communication, quick thinking and multi-tasking as well as superb customer service. "
The three companies that hire the most scale operators are:
- Cargill19 scale operators jobs
- C H & S Inc13 scale operators jobs
- Nucor12 scale operators jobs
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Compare different scale operators
Scale operator vs. Freight checker
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a scale operator are more likely to require skills like "customer service," "basic math," "math," and "scale tickets." On the other hand, a job as a freight checker requires skills like "as400," "unload trucks," "check freight," and "inbound freight." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
On average, freight checkers reach similar levels of education than scale operators. Freight checkers are 1.2% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Scale operator vs. Field checker
Each career also uses different skills, according to real scale operator resumes. While scale operator responsibilities can utilize skills like "customer service," "basic math," "math," and "scale tickets," field checkers use skills like "pest management," "plant diseases," "pca," and "soil samples."
In general, field checkers achieve similar levels of education than scale operators. They're 1.2% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Scale operator vs. Weighmaster
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a scale operator is likely to be skilled in "basic math," "math," "scale tickets," and "outbound trucks," while a typical weighmaster is skilled in "direct calls," "comprehensive documentation," "phone calls," and "monetary transactions."
When it comes to education, weighmasters tend to earn similar degree levels compared to scale operators. In fact, they're 0.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Scale operator vs. Unit control worker
Even though a few skill sets overlap between scale operators and unit control workers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a scale operator might have more use for skills like "customer service," "basic math," "math," and "scale tickets." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of unit control workers require skills like "crisis intervention," "safety equipment," "high-risk clients," and "referral agencies. "
In general, unit control workers hold higher degree levels compared to scale operators. Unit control workers are 9.8% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of scale operator
Updated January 8, 2025
