eCMS Gets an Interface to Vehicle Scales

February 23, 2010 Alex Woodie

Users of the i/OS-based Construction Management System (eCMS) from Computer Guidance now have the capability to integrate vehicle scales directly with their eCMS software. According to Computer Guidance, whose software powers some of the biggest construction and engineering companies in the country, the scale interface will simplify transactions involving loaded trucks.

The calculation of load weights using vehicle scales and tare weights (or the vehicle’s unladen weight) is critical to companies in the transportation and construction industries, which handle large amounts of raw materials. Bulk deliveries of asphalt for a new roadway, for example, will be priced according to the weight of the freight at or near delivery. Trucks traveling the country’s highway system are also required to pay roadway taxes based on the vehicle’s total weight, so it helps to know how much the trucks weigh before heading out.

According to Computer Guidance, the new scale interface launched last week captures vehicle tare and loaded weights from new or existing scales, and enters it into eCMS, which is accessed from System i servers or as a SaaS application. This integration makes it easier for users to create tickets, bills of material, and invoices using the latest weight data.

The new scale interface works with a range scales, and provides capabilities such as support for existing contract information (which speeds transaction processing) and unit conversion. eCMS customers can continue to use third-party scale interfaces if they want, the vendor says.