Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Weight And Balance; Ground Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Procedure; Human Factors; Software and Automation
During preflight we received our weight and balance info from Dispatch via ACARS. We noted that something didn't seem right with the fuel breakdown. We had 111.9 lbs of total fuel but the fuel breakdown showed 5;600 in the left and right tanks with 0 in the center. When we called the Dispatcher to ask; he agreed that the fuel breakdown should have read 56;000 - 0 - 56;000. That is a 100;000 lbs error that could have easily caused an accident had our departure been at XA00; or if it had occurred in the middle of one of the many fatiguing sequences that we fly; and we missed the error. The correct weight and balance changed the takeoff CG by 4 units. I'm unfamiliar with the exact process so I cannot say [cause].This isn't the first time in recent history that this has happened. I'm not sure if something in the process of generating the weight and balance has recently changed or if everyone in the company is starting to get as fatigued and worn down as the pilots are. I'd suggest that the powers that be take a step back and rethink the process. Maybe add a step that addresses this problem specifically. Also; make the crews more aware that this is happening. Maybe add a line in the weight and balance that includes total fuel. In our case; a total fuel of 11;200 lbs is blatantly erroneous and another step in alerting the crew to the error.
Captain reported getting an incorrect ACARS fuel weight from Dispatch.