Fully Integrated Onboard Weighing Solutions for Articulated Haulers, Dump Trucks & Off-Highway Vehicles
Industrial vehicles today are expected to do much more than move heavy loads. With growing pressure to increase operational safety and efficiency — while also improving sustainability — there is a rising need to integrate more intelligence into the vehicles. For dump trucks, loaders, and haulers, accurate onboard weighing is a critical part of this shift. BLH Nobel’s onboard weighing solutions go far beyond basic weighing, accommodating dynamic working conditions to provide exceptional precision and reliability in the most demanding environments. Developed as a fully customized solution for each vehicle, our systems integrate seamlessly into the vehicle infrastructure — bringing a new competitive edge to your vehicles.
Why Accurate Onboard Weighing Matters
Companies in mining, construction, agriculture, and other heavy industries face increasingly complex challenges that advanced onboard weighing can help address — creating new opportunities for vehicle makers.
- Pressure to increase efficiency Rising energy and operational costs are driving the need for load optimization, increased fleet utilization, and reduced downtime.
- Stricter safety and compliance standards Safety regulations are becoming more stringent, with increasing risk of fines for overloading and other compliance issues.
- Transition to green vehicles Growing emphasis on sustainability is increasing demand for electric and hybrid vehicles, which require advanced weighing systems to maximize energy efficiency.
- Adoption of autonomous operations Autonomous haul trucks require real-time load data to maintain stability and minimize downtime.
Core Features
- Strain-gage load cells and extensometers Minimize friction and sensing variation, outperforming pressure transmitter-based systems for superior real-world accuracy.
- Fully integrated into the vehicle The weighing system communicates directly with the vehicle’s electronic control unit and display — no standalone systems or separate interfaces.
- Sophisticated software compensation Compensates for tilt, braking, and terrain variations with condition-based weight calculation for maximum accuracy.
- Custom-engineered for each vehicle No need to adapt your vehicles; the system is customized to the specific design and operation of each model.
- Electronic weighing unit Flexible ECU with CAN-interface (CANopen, J1939) and embedded software customized for the target environment.
- Simplified integration Direct communication with the vehicle’s electronic control unit ensures seamless operation and reduces engineering complexity.
- Optimized development process Shortens implementation cycles, reducing engineering effort and accelerating time to market.
Our systems are ideal for: Articulated dump trucks (ADT), rigid trucks, wheel loaders, and other industrial vehicles.
ADVANTAGES FOR VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS
Boost your edge with advanced solutions for integrated onboard weighing.
- Custom-engineered solutions — No need to adapt your vehicles; the onboard weighing system is customized to the specific design and operation of each model.
- Faster time to market — BLH Nobel’s optimized development process shortens implementation cycles, reducing engineering effort.
- Improved sustainability — Accurate load monitoring helps maximize battery efficiency, enhancing the green performance of your electric vehicle offering.
- Vital for autonomous vehicles — Real-time load data is essential for stability, safety, and operational efficiency.
- Competitive differentiation — Fully integrated, high-precision load monitoring sets your vehicles apart in the market and drives higher customer satisfaction.
- Reduced warranty costs — Overload protection reduces equipment failures and provides data-based evidence for warranty claim validation.
VALUE FOR END USERS
Empower your customers to make every load count.
- Improved safety and compliance — Protects workers, reduces risk of fines and disruption to operations.
- Increased load efficiency — Supports payload optimization, reducing fuel consumption and wear.
- Lower total cost of ownership — Prevents damage and excessive wear due to overloading, reducing maintenance costs and extending vehicle lifetime.
- Less unplanned downtime — Enables predictive maintenance based on real load data.
- Enhanced sustainability — Optimized payloads and real-time insights lead to higher energy efficiency and lower environmental impact.
- Better fleet utilization — Allows smart scheduling and load balancing to maximize fleet efficiency.
Products - High-Quality, Customized Components
BLH Nobel industrial onboard weighing systems are comprised of load cells with embedded amplifiers and/or extensometers and an electronic weighing unit featuring flexible communication interfaces and specialized software, seamlessly integrated with the vehicle’s electronic control unit.
- CUSTOM-MADE LOAD CELLS Load cells tailored to the vehicle, enabling easy installation, zero or minimal changes to the vehicle infrastructure, and significantly reduced downtime.
- CLC LOAD CELL An exceptionally low-profile load cell, insensitive to side loading and other interfering effects, providing long-term stability and high repeatability.
- CUSTOM EXTENSOMETERS Tension-compression extensometers, customized for specific strain levels and physical dimensions according to the individual vehicle and application requirements.
- ELECTRONIC WEIGHING UNIT Flexible ECU with power supply for sensors and digital conversion of analog signals. Embedded microcontroller with CAN-interface (CANopen, J1939) and customized software.
Case Study: Volvo Construction Wquipment
Background
Volvo Construction Equipment is a world-leading manufacturer of heavy-duty construction equipment and vehicles for demanding industrial segments such as construction, quarrying, agriculture, mining, utilities, and others.
Need
For its articulated dump trucks, Volvo CE required an improved onboard weighing system that could leverage existing inputs from a pressure transmitter signal. The solution needed to align with Volvo’s specific technical and performance requirements and be suitable for high-volume truck production.
Solution
In cooperation with Volvo CE, BLH Nobel developed a custom, state-of-the-art onboard weighing system for installation on the truck damper. Featuring a custom amplifier and precision-engineered custom load cells, the system offers premium quality at a cost-effective price point. During loading, the operator sees load indicator lights on the outside of the machine showing partial load, nominal load, and overload. The cab display shows exact weight in tons. The system is fully automatic, requiring no human intervention. Load data can be accessed remotely via the Volvo telematics system for payload management.
Results
The system enables operators to ensure the optimal load every cycle, for maximal productivity, improved fuel efficiency, and reduced machine wear. It also unlocks previously inaccessible data, such as the weight of carry-back left in the haul body after dumping.
To date, BLH Nobel has equipped 20,000–25,000 Volvo trucks worldwide. The system is installed as standard on some models and as an option on others.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of on-board weighing for articulated haulers?
Onboard weighing ensures the optimal load is carried every cycle — maximizing production, boosting fuel efficiency, and reducing machine wear. By combining transported load measurements with fuel consumption data, operators can see the true productivity of the machine. The system also unlocks previously inaccessible information, such as the weight of carry-back left in the haul body after dumping. With integrated tilt and terrain compensation, accuracy is maintained regardless of site conditions.
How to prevent overloading on dump trucks?
The most effective approach is a fully integrated onboard weighing system based on strain-gage load cells rather than pressure transmitters. Load indicator lights show partial load, nominal load, and overload status in real time. Combined with fleet-level telematics, site managers can monitor payload data remotely, identify loading patterns, and ensure compliance — reducing equipment failures and providing data-based evidence for warranty claim validation.
Who provides the best on-board weighing systems?
BLH Nobel is the pioneer and market leader in heavy-duty onboard weighing, with decades of experience and tens of thousands of systems installed in industrial vehicles worldwide — including 20,000–25,000 Volvo CE articulated dump trucks. We offer complete in-house capabilities from development and manufacturing to ongoing support, all produced at our facilities in Sweden. As a trusted partner for several large off-highway vehicle manufacturers, we deliver fully customized systems that integrate seamlessly into each vehicle platform.