When it comes to commercial trucking, choosing the right vehicle brand goes beyond looks or fuel efficiency — it’s about reliability, compliance, and performance under load. Around the world, different truck manufacturers dominate regional markets with varying suspension systems, axle configurations, and onboard scale technologies.

Whether you’re managing a fleet in North America, Australia, Europe, or New Zealand, understanding truck brand differences and their onboard weighing compatibility is crucial. In this article, we compare leading global truck brands, outline their suspension types, and explain how Loadsense provides a universal, cost-effective onboard weighing solution compatible with most truck and trailer systems.

🚚 Leading Global Truck Manufacturers and Their Vehicles

1. Volvo Trucks

Website: https://www.volvotrucks.com
Regions: Europe, North America, Australia, Asia

Volvo is known for its focus on safety, fuel efficiency, and advanced driver-assistance technologies. Common suspension types include air suspension and parabolic spring suspension, particularly on long-haul models like the FH series.

Onboard Weighing Compatibility:
Volvo offers optional OEM onboard weighing systems but they’re typically expensive. Loadsense provides a more accessible retrofit solution that supports both air and spring suspensions, including front and rear axle groups.

2. Kenworth Trucks

Website: https://www.kenworth.com
Regions: USA, Canada, Australia, NZ

Kenworth’s rugged and reliable trucks like the T680 and K200 are a staple in North America and Australasia. They often come equipped with multi-leaf spring or air suspensions and are commonly used in linehaul and construction industries.

Onboard Weighing Compatibility:
While Kenworth trucks can be fitted with factory or aftermarket scales, they often require suspension-specific calibration. Loadsense sensors are engineered to be compatible with these configurations — whether it’s a six-rod spring, airbag, or walking beam suspension.

3. Mercedes-Benz Trucks (Daimler Group)

Website: https://www.mercedes-benz-trucks.com
Regions: Europe, Africa, Australia

Mercedes-Benz’s Actros and Arocs models are popular for heavy-duty and urban distribution with premium tech integration. These vehicles typically come with air suspension or electronically controlled suspension (ECAS).

Onboard Weighing Compatibility:
The factory ECAS systems are accurate but costly to maintain. Loadsense bypasses this by offering non-intrusive sensor-based weighing adaptable to air suspensions without interfering with the vehicle’s electronics.

4. Scania Trucks

Website: https://www.scania.com
Regions: Europe, Australia, South America

Scania vehicles are recognised for strong drivetrains and modular configurations. Suspension systems range from leaf spring to full air suspensions, especially in R-series and G-series models.

Onboard Weighing Compatibility:
Scania’s onboard systems are efficient but are brand-locked. With Loadsense, operators can install external weighing sensors that integrate with both mechanical and pneumatic suspensions, without dealership-level restrictions.

5. Freightliner Trucks (Daimler Group)

Website: https://www.freightliner.com
Regions: North America

Freightliner’s Cascadia is a dominant highway truck in the US and Canada. These trucks commonly run on air ride suspensions with tandem or tridem axle groups.

Onboard Weighing Compatibility:
Freightliner supports OEM load sensors, but they can be complicated to retrofit. Loadsense scales offer plug-and-play integration for airbag and mechanical suspensions, ideal for mixed fleets and aftermarket installations.

6. Isuzu Trucks

Website: https://www.isuzu.co.jp/world
Regions: Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia

Isuzu’s medium-duty trucks, such as the N-Series and F-Series, dominate urban and regional deliveries. Most units use steel leaf spring suspensions, with newer models offering air options.

Onboard Weighing Compatibility:
Isuzu’s factory scale options are minimal. Loadsense enables accurate axle group weighing with easy-to-fit sensors for leaf and coil spring setups, ensuring vehicles stay compliant on urban roads.

7. DAF Trucks (Paccar Group)

Website: https://www.daf.com
Regions: UK, Europe, New Zealand

DAF trucks, including the CF and XF models, are highly customisable and often come with air or mechanical suspensions. They are known for comfort and fuel economy in European markets.

Onboard Weighing Compatibility:
DAF’s internal weighing systems are limited in aftermarket scenarios. Loadsense weighing sensors integrate cleanly with DAF suspension systems — ensuring axle group monitoring that meets UK and EU overloading laws.

8. Hino Trucks

Website: https://www.hino-global.com
Regions: Japan, New Zealand, Australia, SE Asia

Hino trucks cater mostly to light and medium-duty haulage with multi-leaf spring or parabolic spring suspensions. Popular models include the 500 and 700 series.

Onboard Weighing Compatibility:
With limited factory weighing options, Hino vehicles benefit greatly from Loadsense retrofitted weighing systems, which are lightweight, robust, and suited for spring suspensions in tight delivery environments.

⚖️ Why Suspension Type Matters for Onboard Weighing

Truck suspension directly affects onboard weighing system accuracy. Here’s how:

Suspension Type Typical Use Loadsense Compatibility
Air Suspension Long-haul, Tippers, Freightliners ✅ Yes – with air pressure sensors
Leaf Spring Construction, Medium-duty, Older trucks ✅ Yes – with deflection/load sensors
Walking Beam Off-road, Mining trucks ✅ Yes – with custom strain gauge kits
Coil Suspension Light-duty trucks, Vans ✅ Yes – through axle sensors

Loadsense provides tailored solutions for each of these suspension types, ensuring real-time accuracy, minimal maintenance, and easy installation across most global truck brands.

🛠️ The Loadsense Advantage

At Loadsense Ltd., we’ve developed a versatile onboard truck and trailer weighing solution designed to work with nearly any global truck brand or trailer configuration. Our system:

  • Supports axle group weighing for legal compliance

  • Works across air, spring, and mechanical suspensions

  • Offers a cloud-based reporting platform for fleet managers

  • Installs without interfering with the OEM electronics

  • Is cost-effective compared to brand-locked systems

✅ Stay Compliant and In Control – No Matter the Truck Brand

Global logistics demands flexibility — not brand dependency. Whether you’re operating a Kenworth in Australia, a Freightliner in the USA, or a Scania in Europe, Loadsense onboard weighing solutions keep your fleet compliant, protected, and optimised for load management.

👉 Learn more at https://loadsensescales.com or contact us for custom weighing solutions tailored to your fleet.