A new partnership with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) allows PrePass customers to bypass weigh stations that are part of the Norpass system. The extended service adds 23 new locations within Washington, Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, New York and South Dakota. This is in addition to 21 locations added through Oregon’s Green Light program announced in January.
The transponder-based Norpass weigh station bypass system is operated by WSDOT on behalf of the other states in the Norpass system. Help Inc., the provider of PrePass, worked with WSDOT on a cooperative agreement that will enable drivers to use one transponder for weigh station bypassing at Norpass and PrePass locations.
Previously, truck drivers and fleets operating in Washington and other Norpass states purchased a transponder from WSDOT that also worked in several other jurisdictions. The WSDOT transponders could be added to the PrePass system—if requested by the driver—but general PrePass transponders could not communicate with WSDOT weigh stations, meaning some drivers had to carry two transponders. The new agreement means drivers can carry just one transponder—Norpass or PrePass—because the devices are now fully interoperable. WSDOT will continue to sell transponders.
“The goal is one transponder that will work everywhere,” said Anne Ford, WSDOT’s commercial vehicle services administrator. “We are pleased our partnership with Help Inc. helps achieve that goal.”
Transponders allow trucks to bypass weigh stations by electronically verifying a truck’s legal weight, safety rating and credentials as the truck travels at highway speeds. Based on the carrier’s safety score, credentials and truck weight, drivers receive either a green light to continue driving or a red light indicating they must report to the weigh station for inspection.
