General information only, last reviewed October 25, 2026. Full notice at the end of the page. A date on this page has passed. Check the current rule at the source before you rely on it. Dates to watch
Weights and measures are the state or local inspections that make sure a fuel pump delivers the exact gallons it charges for, so the customer gets what they pay for.
An inspector tests each pump by drawing a known amount of fuel and checking that the meter reads true within a tight tolerance. The same office checks scales and other measuring devices in other trades, which is where the old name comes from. At a fuel site the focus is the pump meter.
The point is fairness on both sides. A pump that gives too little cheats the customer, and one that gives too much quietly cheats the operator. The inspection keeps the meter honest in either direction, and a passing pump usually gets a dated sticker showing it was checked.
For an operator, the stakes are practical. A pump that fails can be tagged out of service until it is repaired and retested, which means a dead island and lost sales. Keeping meters calibrated and ready is cheaper than getting caught short during a surprise visit.
In useThe inspector tests each pump against a calibrated measure, the meters read within tolerance, and the site keeps every island open with a fresh sticker.
See also Gross vs net gallons, Shrinkage, Automatic tank gauging (ATG)