Virtually all of commerce is dependent upon the functions of weighmasters. Weighmasters are persons licensed by the DMS to certify the weighted, measured, or counted quantity of any commodity whenever both parties to the transaction are not present at the time that quantity is determined. Weighmasters issue certificates as a record indicating the amount, as well as how and where the quantity was determined. These “weighmaster certificates” are recognized as legal documentation of the quantities determined and indicated thereon. Businesses and individuals rely upon the information contained as being “certifiably” accurate as the basis of payment in their transactions. In the event of any dispute of such magnitude, courts of law rely on these certificates as a foundation for determining settlement.

Specific criteria are established in the law for weighmasters to follow when issuing weighmaster certificates. Sealers conduct audit inspections of thousands of weighmaster records to verify correctness and completeness of the required information. Compliance with established weighmaster procedures is determined from these audit inspections, as well as “under-cover” weighing inspections. In many cases, Sealers work in cooperation with the DMS to offer training to ensure the correctness of weighmaster certificates issued. The actions taken by Sealers help prevent/reduce costly errors and fraudulent business practices. It is a misdemeanor to ask a weighmaster to issue a false or fraudulent weighmaster certificate.