On farm public weigh bridge, and charges?

[PSQ]

We have a 50t commercial weigh bridge on farm, which is tested annually by the council, FoC.
We're not a 'public weigh bridge', but the council 'weights and measures' man suggests we should be, as there are occasional near neighbours who use the bridge.
The upside is a bit of income, the downside is having to be around during 'published hours', having to become a certified 'weigh master' and having all sorts of people lurking around a working yard at no notice.

To those with on farm weigh bridges, are you 'public'?
If not, do you weigh (and charge) trusted businesses?
What is a fair rate per weighing (and tare) for letting someone use £40+k's worth of kit?
I'm just trying to 'weigh up' if the hassle will be worth it.

 

[RAF]

£10

 

[bobk]

We have a 50t commercial weigh bridge on farm, which is tested annually by the council, FoC.
We're not a 'public weigh bridge', but the council 'weights and measures' man suggests we should be, as there are occasional near neighbours who use the bridge.
The upside is a bit of income, the downside is having to be around during 'published hours', having to become a certified 'weigh master' and having all sorts of people lurking around a working yard at no notice.

To those with on farm weigh bridges, are you 'public'?
If not, do you weigh (and charge) trusted businesses?
What is a fair rate per weighing (and tare) for letting someone use £40+k's worth of kit?
I'm just trying to 'weigh up' if the hassle will be worth it.

£8 inc vat I reluctantly pay

 

[Northeastfarmer]

I pay £5 cash

 

[Derrick Hughes]

You can't charge unless public

 

[Lazy Sod]

It must must rather depend on your location i.e. how much business you'll get. There's a farmer with a public one near here whose drive opens directly onto the A303, his position is ideal.

 

[Brisel]

I have 2 weigh bridges in the yard for our commercial grain store operation. Calibrated by Weights & Measures. No "public use" as such, though a few locals & folk who bring grain in or out use it FOC.

 

[spark plug]

If it was a public weigh bridge, would that mean the plod and VOSA could bring unscrupulous types in transit tippers into your yard for a look round?

 

[An Gof]

I pay £5 + vat here or a £5 voucher all in which is what is preferred.

 

[unlacedgecko]

£10

That's what I paid last time I used a public with bridge.

 

[deleted user 436632456]

You could get yourself a nice touchscreen monitor & self-weigh software and stick on a contactless card reader for collecting the weighing fee.. bob would be your very uncle.
This would save you need for always being about and just let them weigh themselves but It's just could you justify the payback? paid £5k a couple of years ago for decent weighbridge software. A very viable option tho

 

[Werzle]

One locally charges £15. Ideal if you could have one that people could just pay into a machine and use themselves without you needing to be onsite

 

[An Gof]

£15 for a weigh

 

[warksfarmer]

We have a 50t commercial weigh bridge on farm, which is tested annually by the council, FoC.
We're not a 'public weigh bridge', but the council 'weights and measures' man suggests we should be, as there are occasional near neighbours who use the bridge.
The upside is a bit of income, the downside is having to be around during 'published hours', having to become a certified 'weigh master' and having all sorts of people lurking around a working yard at no notice.

To those with on farm weigh bridges, are you 'public'?
If not, do you weigh (and charge) trusted businesses?
What is a fair rate per weighing (and tare) for letting someone use £40+k's worth of kit?
I'm just trying to 'weigh up' if the hassle will be worth it.

£10

 

[Northeastfarmer]

One locally charges £15. Ideal if you could have one that people could just pay into a machine and use themselves without you needing to be onsite

That’s extortionate

 

[An Gof]

That’s extortionate

It’s worse than that if you only have a 5T trailer

 

[cows sh#t me to tears]

That's what I paid last time I used a public with bridge.

Public weighbridge down here used to charge nothing. But then it started costing them 2k a year to be tested. So one locally charges $20.
I acquired a non public bridge with new farm. Neighbors all ring to use it. At this point I allow them. A few have offered to pay me. Most dont. I dont charge but I also dont have a 2k annual inspection fee.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Am I right in saying you can't charge anyone until you have gone through a course with the Council

 

[Derky]

£8.50 plus vat. You need to do a exam by local trading standards. You also must have opening hours and stick to them. You cant just shut up shop for the day.

 

[Sid]

25p /t

£8.50 plus vat. You need to do a exam by local trading standards. You also must have opening hours and stick to them. You cant just shut up shop for the day.

That's worse than running a pub or milking cows!

Can you choose your own hours?