PHOENIX – PrePass-approved trucks are receiving green lights to bypass more weigh stations in many new locations. Over the past year, PrePass Safety Alliance’s Board of Directors has approved 47 new bypassing sites in New Jersey, Illinois, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin plus the Canadian province of British Columbia.
PrePass Safety Alliance is a non-profit public-private partnership that has served the trucking industry and state agencies since 1993 to improve highway safety and efficiency in commercial transportation. New PrePass sites include:
• New Jersey: Carney’s Point northbound I-295; Greenwich eastbound I-78; and Knowlton eastbound I-80
• Illinois: Richmond northbound and southbound US12
• Michigan: Grass Lake eastbound and westbound I-94
• Montana: Clearwater Junction eastbound, westbound and southbound MT 200
• North Carolina: Charlotte southbound I-85; Gaston County northbound I-85; and Mt. Airy northbound I-77
• North Dakota: Beach eastbound I-94; Bowman northbound, southbound, eastbound and westbound US 12/US 85; Joliette southbound US 81; and West Fargo westbound I-94
• Ohio: Van Wert eastbound U.S. 30
• Texas: Abernathy northbound and southbound I-27; Childress northbound and southbound U.S. 287; Mt. Pleasant eastbound and westbound I-30; Penwell eastbound I-20; Queen City eastbound U.S. 59; Refugio northbound U.S. 77; San Marcos southbound I-35; and Three Rivers northbound and southbound I-37
• Wisconsin: Sparta eastbound I-90
In addition, Carson northbound on Interstate 405 in California is also now reopened after extended closure. All of these new PrePass sites offer bypassing service using MOTION, PrePass’ mobile application for iOS and Android powered smartphones and tablets as well as for select telematics devices. PrePass MOTION also includes ALERTS, proactive notifications of upcoming road hazards including high wind areas, steep grades and no commercial vehicle roads.
PrePass Safety Alliance also expanded its bypass service to Canada in 2019. A new agreement with British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure allows users to bypass weigh stations with PrePass RFID transponders in British Columbia, opening up bypass opportunities at 13 Weigh2GoBC locations.
“According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average national cost of diesel fuel has been near or above $3 per gallon for at least the past couple of years and shows no signs of dropping below this level in 2020,” said Mark Doughty, Alliance president and chief operating officer. “Safe weigh station bypassing means significant fuel savings that flow directly to a carrier’s bottom line.”
“Meanwhile, states have a primary responsibility to ensure those operating on their roads are safe,” Doughty said. “PrePass Safety Alliance is proud to partner with states on new opportunities for safe drivers to continue moving freight at highway speeds, while allowing officials to focus on other commercial vehicles that need the most attention.”
In addition to weigh station bypass, PrePass Safety Alliance also offers electronic toll payment options through PrePass Plus. Both services include INFORM, a comprehensive data management suite offered to PrePass customers at no cost that helps fleets understand and take action to improve their safety scores and reduce tolling impacts.
The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
