The PrePass System

Approximately one mile before a weigh station, the PrePass transponder sends a signal. The truck is then electronically identified and weighed. A PrePass system computer located in the weigh station verifies truck credentials. A green light and audible signal from the truck's windshield-mounted transponder give the go-ahead to bypass. If weight or credentials cannot be verified, the driver is signaled to pull into the station.

As a weigh station comes into view, you can see a long line of trucks already waiting, engines idling and wipers running. Like always, you begin counting the trucks ahead of yours. “I bet this will take at least 45 minutes, maybe even an hour,” you say aloud to the empty cab, “and I’m running late already.”

In your rearview mirror, you see the dry bulk hauler that’s been on the road with you since about lunchtime approaching the station, too. Instead of signaling to pull into line, however, the driver goes right by. “PrePass. The guy has PrePass,” you think. “Must feel pretty good to get that green light and go driving on by the rest of us.”

In January, the 220,000 current PrePass users got that green light more than 2-million times, according to Richard P. Landis, president and CEO of HELP, Inc. the PrePass system provider. The green light signaling that they are cleared to pass by a weigh station is one of the “little” things that drivers mention when they talk about why they like PrePass, he notes.

“Of course it’s a good feeling to drive right by a long line at a weigh station, but drivers tell us it is more than that,” Landis explains.

“The green light is like a little official recognition for doing a good job, for doing things right. It is a form of professional respect, and even the best drivers don’t get enough of that most days.”

PrePass is an automated clearance system that is designed so that qualified drivers can comply electronically with state safety and credential requirements without having to stop at weigh stations.

Should you go for the green light?

Answering these questions may help you to decide if automated bypass services such as PrePass make sense for your business. AVAILABILITY/USAGE: 1. At how many weigh stations and ports of entry do you typically stop per month? 2. Is PrePass available at all or most of these stations? 3. Are you a good driver with a good record that meets the PrePass qualifications? (Go to www.prepass.com for more information.) FUEL COSTS (lost profits): 4. How much total time do you spend idling per month at weigh stations? 5. According to Argonne National Laboratory, a typical heavy-duty diesel engine consumes fuel at the rate of 1.2 gal/hr. To get a very rough estimate of your idling fuel costs per month, multiply 1.2 gal/hr. times the number of hours you spend idling. Then multiply that gallons-per-month figure by the current cost of diesel per gallon. For example, if you spend 10 hours total per month idling at weigh stations, your weigh station, fuel costs would be $18 (if diesel is $1.80 per gallon). PRODUCTIVITY: 6. Do you ever miss deliveries or pick-ups because of delays at weigh stations? 7. Have you ever lost a customer because of these delays? 8. If you were able to regularly bypass weigh stations, could you add additional business with the time saved? LIFESTYLE: 9. Would you experience less stress if you could bypass weigh stations? 10. Generally speaking, would it improve your workday if you could eliminate most of your current weigh station stops?

Instead, as a truck equipped with a PrePass transponder approaches a weigh station, it is weighed by an electronic scale located in the ground and verified by a PrePass computer at the station.

A green light and audible signal give drivers the OK to bypass the weigh station. If weight and credentials cannot be verified by the system, a red light and audible signal tell drivers to pull into the station for manual verification.

The service is currently available at 232 sites in 24 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

The only equipment required is a transponder about the size of a deck of cards, which attaches to the windshield with double-backed tape. There is no charge for the device or its installation; customers pay a usage fee.

Especially with today’s record-high fuel prices, it may make sense to explore PrePass (and other automated bypass systems) intended to keep you rolling instead of idling in lines while you watch profits blow out the exhaust stack and drift away.

The checklist found on the next page is designed to help you weigh the potential benefits for your business. Who knows? There may be green lights ahead.