TRAINING FOR THE
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES OFFICIAL
MODULE 1
COURSE CURRICULUM
Introduction
MODULE 2
MODULE 3
Laws & Regulations
Enforcement Procedures
MODULE 4
MODULE 5
MODULE 6
MODULE 7
Legal Action
Legal Metrology
Field Standards & Test Equipment
Basic Weighing / Measuring Principles

TRAINING FOR THE
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES OFFICIAL
COURSE CURRICULUM
MODULE 8
MODULE 9
Device Type Evaluation
Weighing Devices
MODULE 10 Measuring Devices
MODULE 11 Weighmaster Enforcement
MODULE 12 Petroleum Products
MODULE 13 Quantity Control
MODULE 14 Service Agencies and Agents

TRAINING FOR THE
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES OFFICIAL
Module Eleven
“WEIGHMASTER ENFORCEMENT”
Eleventh in a series of 14

General Overview
This module will:

Define “weighmaster”
 Review the two categories of weighmasters
 Provide some history of the weighmaster program

Module Objectives
Familiarize you with the laws and regulations governing weighmaster operations
Explain the basic weighmaster licensing and weighmaster certificate content requirements
Review the basic steps in conducting a location inspection
Learn the procedures in establishing/maintaining various types of carried and average tare weights
Introduce you to the volumetric conversion procedure for squid, Pacific Whiting and anchovy
Review end product testing

Introduction
The Weighmaster Enforcement Program
Assures that commercial transactions, based on quantities certified to on a weighmaster certificate, are accurate
Licenses as weighmasters, the individuals or firms who weigh, measure or count bulk commodities and issue certificates of accuracy of the weight, measure or count

History
The Weighmaster Act - 1915
First official Act regulating weighmaster activity
WEIGHMASTER ACT
An act defining public weighmaster: describing his duties; providing for rules and regulations governing the performance of his duties; prescribing a bond and fixing the amount thereof; and providing penalties for any violation of the provisions of this act.
Public Weighmaster. Bond. Seals. Exceptions.
SECTION 1.
Any person, firm, corporation, copartnership, or individual engaged in the business of public weighing for hire who shall weigh or measure any commodity, produce or article, and issue therefore a weight or measure certificate which shall be accepted as the accurate weight or measure upon which the purchase or sale of such commodity, produce, or article is based shall be known as a public weighmaster, and shall file a bond with the State Superintendent of Weights and Measures.

Locations
Fixed
Non-Fixed
A permanent, physical location or address
A random, non-established or unpredictable location(s)
May operate both fixed and non-fixed locations

Licensing
Complete and submit a license application with appropriate fees
Fixed Location
Additional Fixed
- $ 75.00
- $ 30.00
Non-fixed Location - $200.00
Deputy - $ 20.00

Weighmaster Certificates
 Issued as the basis to buy or sell a commodity
 To charge for a service based on quantity indicated on certificate
 Required to be issued whenever payment is dependent on written or printed weight, measure, or count

Weighmaster Certificates Content
 Legend
 Printed name of principal weighmaster
 Numbered consecutively
 Other information applicable to transaction
 Information must be clear and legible

Operational Requirements
Shall:
 Weigh a vehicle with all persons out of vehicle and off scale
 Weigh vehicle, container, pallet or commodity at the time of certification
 Not weigh vehicle for certification when part is not resting on scale
 Not issue certificates in excess of 80,000 lbs.
gross weight

Weighmaster Inspection and
Certificate Audits
Audit Report form is a record of the inspector’s findings after examining weighmaster certificates and operations
Audit Policies
Ensures uniform enforcement
Purpose of Inspection Program
Licensed weighmasters
Properly trained deputies
Use approved and sealed devices
Promote accuracy
Ensure weights are legally established and maintained

Location Inspection
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Verify license information and status with DMS prior to inspection
Speak with supervisor upon arrival
Complete Audit Form based on findings
Review all violations with person in charge and obtain signature

Location Inspection
Areas to Examine:
License
Weighmaster Certificates
Containers & Pallets
People Inside & Outside
Scale
Vehicles & Trucks
Weighing, Measuring, & Counting Procedures

Container & Vehicle Tare Weight
Tare Weight –
Empty or unladen weight of a vehicle, container or pallet
 A tare weight that is legally established and used repeatedly is referred to as a “Carried”
Tare Weight
There are seven types of “Carried” Tare Weights:

Common Tare Weight
Average weight of a group of containers or pallets determined prior to time of delivery
Used for containers / pallets weighing 1,000 lbs. or less
Must complete a Common Tare Notice

Common Tare Weight
Verification
Identify common tare weights used
Containers & pallets used
Common tare weight codes
Reweigh containers & pallets
Tolerance
Two-tenths (0.2) pound or two percent (2%)

Predetermined Individual Tare Weights
Weight of a vehicle, container or pallet determined prior to time of delivery
Must be permanently marked on both sides with company name, license number and predetermined individual tare weight

Predetermined Individual Tare Weights
Verification
Reweigh vehicle, container or pallet
Tolerance
Two-tenths (0.2) pound or two percent (2%)

Used exclusively for trucks hauling earth, stone, rock, sand, gravel and asphalt paving material
Exempt from some “carried” tare weight regulations

Predetermined Individual Tare Weights for Earth, Rock, etc.
Verification
Obtain recorded tare weight from weighmaster
Driver on/off
Tolerance
Actual weight not to exceed recorded weight

Seasonal Tare Weight (Cab Card)
Tare weight of a fuel-consuming vehicle used to transport only bulk loads of tomatoes and is valid only one harvest season

Seasonal Tare Weight (Cab Card)
Verification
Truck driver presents cab card
Take possession of cab card
Instruct driver to disconnect tractor
Tolerance
Actual weight of tractor cannot vary by more than 300 pounds

Timber Tare Weights
Are established on unladen, log hauling trucks and used to determine net weight of logs delivered to a saw mill
Net weight converted to board foot volume
Based on a mathematical average

Timber Tare Weights
Verification
Review and verify all records
Review computer program used
Tolerance
Actual tare weight does not exceed timber tare weight by more than 2%

Multiple Draft Weighing
Weighing procedure whereby individual weights of connected vehicles in the combination are determined without resting on the scale deck simultaneously and without disconnecting the vehicles
 Must first submit a written request for authorization and submit test data supporting accuracy
 Must have approval from CDFA

Multiple Draft Weighing
Verification
Review weighmaster procedures used to establish multiple draft weight
Reweigh vehicle and connected combination
Tolerance
No more than twice the scale tolerance for the net load

Volumetric Conversion to Weight of Squid
Procedure whereby the weight of squid, Pacific Whiting or anchovy, removed from fishing vessels, may be determined by computation based on volumetric measurement of containers
History
Preceded by numerous fisherman complaints
Requested by CA Department of Fish & Game
Official weight —62.8 pounds per cubic foot
Requirements
Specific markings on containers
Issuance of Fish and Game landing receipt

Average Tare Weights
Not considered to be a carried tare weight
Average weight of a group of containers within a uniform weight range at the time of delivery
 Determined for each load at time of certification
 Not used on subsequent loads

Average Tare Weights
Verification
Review weighmaster procedures used to establish the average tare weight
If said containers are available, reweigh them

End Product Testing
An investigative tool to determine compliance
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Types of End Product Testing
Weight / measure verification
Salvage material test sales
Household goods reweigh
Bulk delivery volume verification
Ready-mix concrete verification
Livestock reweighs
Undercover requests for false certificates

Summary
Basic weighmaster licensing & certificate requirements
How to conduct a location inspection
How to establish & maintain types of carried and average tare weights
Volumetric conversion procedure
End product testing

Conclusion
This training module has provided you with a better understanding of the weighmaster program and a deeper appreciation about their rights and responsibilities

TRAINING FOR THE
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES OFFICIAL
This Concludes Module 11
“WEIGHMASTER
ENFORCEMENT”