Phones, GPS units, telematics devices OK’d for use as bypass transponders

user-gravatar Headshot
Updated Jul 24, 2013

weigh station scalesThe Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced last week via the Federal Register that clears smartphones, tablets, fleet management systems GPS navigation units and onboard telematics devices to be used as transponders in weigh scale and inspection site bypass systems.

Transponders allow trucks to bypass inspections if they meet certain criteria.

With the clearance of phones and the other devices, states can now set up networks to screen trucks with devices that use mobile data that allow them to be used as transponders. State screening devices would then be able to access cellular data networks and exchange credentials via Web connection. Mobile device transponders would be triggered via GPS signal and would then issue the traditional red or green light responses.

FMCSA says the benefits of allowing mobile devices to be used as transponders are: (1) To allow more states to participate in the bypass program, (2) Allow FMCSA and other enforcement personnel to allow more trucks to be checked without stopping, increasing the agency’s ability to “target high risk carriers,” it says, (3) Decrease congestion and emissions and inspection sites and help carriers avoid costs associated with idling at inspection sites (4) Let states add additional screening sites with no infrastructure-related costs and (5) Allow carriers to use devices they already have, FMCSA says.