Mobile Devices To Trigger Truck Inspections

Nov 25, 2013 - 11 years ago

The use of smartphones to enable electronic truck inspections and weigh station bypasses is growing the U.S.

In July, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration began allowing states to use wireless mobile data devices such as smartphones, tablets and onboard computers to serve as transponders in electronic truck inspection and weigh station bypass systems and since then, reports CCJ magazine, more states are looking into using new transponders to identify commercial vehicles as they approach inspection points.

DriveWyze’s preclearance program, for example, allows states to establish the automated criteria they use to determine whether to inspect a vehicle or issue a green light for bypass through an app on a mobile device. The GPS-enabled app triggers a message that automatically identifies the motor carrier in the screening software system used by enforcement officers.

Drivewyze’s service already is active in 16 states, with agreements in place with four more, reports CCJ. Prior to FMCSA’s announcement, only DSRC enabled transponders satisfied the agency’s requirement for electronic inspection systems if states were to receive federal funding. That’s because DSRC was the only technology available at the time of FMCSA’s earlier mandate.

FMCSA says mobile data devices will accelerate the adoption of electronic bypass systems that now are used by 39 states. With the new technology, state agencies can set up inspection sites anywhere through geofencing by creating a virtual perimeter around a geographic area – eliminating the need to use fixed sites only.