Stop or go. What would you rather do?
For the industry’s Top 25 for-hire carriers, the answer is 100% “go” when it comes to weigh station bypass. All of them use a service to help them bypass a weigh station versus pulling in for an inspection.
There is a big reason why the Top 25 all rely on bypass as one of their technology solutions. They want to leverage their solid safety scores and have their drivers bypass weigh stations and stay on the move. Those with the very best safety scores can have bypass rates near 90%. Hard work in safety means trucks can remain on the road longer, and their drivers can be more productive, pulling as many miles as possible. If a truck has two bypasses per month, the service pays for itself. On average, we’re seeing fleets receive between two and 25 bypasses per truck, per month. A win for the fleet, and an even bigger win for their drivers.
But, there is a misperception that only large fleets, or fleets with great safety scores, can benefit from bypass. That’s simply not true. Weigh station bypass can benefit the vast majority of fleets and owner operators. And it can even help poor-performing fleets that are on a path of improving their safety scores, but more on that later.
How does it work?
When a vehicle approaches a fixed weigh station or mobile inspection site that is enabled with bypass software from Drivewyze or another company, data is transmitted. The bypass service alerts the driver of the upcoming site, while at the same time, bypass criteria (established by each state enforcement agency, including safety scores, registration and IFTA tax compliance) are analyzed.
If the carrier and vehicle pass the criteria, the driver receives permission to bypass the site. That’s what’s commonly called a bypass. The driver is signaled to pull in if there’s an issue or if the random algorithm indicates it is time for a pull-in. Bypass rates generally range from 50% to 90% -- depending upon the fleet or vehicle’s safety score, with rates improving as safety scores improve.
Ten years ago, there were significant gaps in bypass services offered by states. But technology has changed that – it’s accelerated over the years thanks to the utilization of cellular networks and the internet to add transponder-like functionality to ELDs and mobile devices such as tablets and mobile phones. Unlike legacy bypass methods that use dedicated short-range communication transponders in every truck, this technology doesn’t require the installation of additional equipment. Today, all lower 48 states have weigh station bypass technology. Drivewyze itself works with 44 of those states, as well four Canadian provinces.
If you tally it up, those states have 1,200 inspection sites operating and ready for truckers to pull in for an inspection. If you were piloting a truck on a coast-to-coast run, you’d come up on between 35- and 50 inspection sites, many of which would be “open” during your 3,000-mile run. If the site is open, and you pull in, lines are likely longer than you may have experienced just 10 years ago.
Time is money
If you don’t have a bypass solution, you have real costs associated with even a simple pull-in. An FMCSA study (conducted back in 2007) estimated that a single weigh station pull-in costs $8.68. That was factoring in time and operational costs (decelerating, time at the station, and time to get back up to speed), plus fuel loss.
Again, those numbers are old and very conservative. In reality, the cost of a pull-in is significantly higher. In time alone, our own studies suggest about a five-minute delay for a standard pull-in (assuming no back up traffic). Much higher – between 30 minutes to an hour – for those who are moved to a full inspection.
More importantly, with Hours of Service and JIT deliveries, time variables can make a huge difference. Unexpected time at a weigh station can mean missing a delivery window. Or running out of time to hit a targeted rest area or travel plaza. Again, the Top 25 know this, and they try to take all time variables off the table.
Top fleets have told us another benefit: their drivers have higher worker satisfaction, plus they work closer with them if they know the company is investing in a bypass service. “We value your time on the road…no one likes pulling in for a conversation with an inspection officer, blood pressure rises. Bypass will allow you to pull more miles, and we’re going to give it to you. But, here’s what we want in return….”
The ask? They want their drivers to be more diligent in reporting any issues on the road. If a marker light is out, let them know. Don’t do a cursory walkaround, pay attention and let maintenance know of any issues. That way, if an inspection does take place on the road or at a weigh station, chances are much greater of a clean inspection and a better safety score. That translates into an even higher bypass rate. Another win-win.
While we like to think that all fleets are as safe as possible, we know, like in any industry, there are bad actors out there. And they’re certainly not candidates for weigh station bypass. But there is a middle sector that can benefit. And those are the smaller fleets that have had some bumps in the road when it comes to safety.
Stuck in the middle
Being smaller, any incident is magnified when it comes to safety scores. That impacts everything from the loads they receive to the insurance premiums they pay. Yeah, safety pays. And for unsafe fleets, it costs. But many of those borderline fleets are on the mend, doing their best to improve their safety metrics. Weigh station bypass can help those fleets, too. If scores are poor, you can be pulled in more often since you’re, in essence, ‘red flagging’ yourself for an inspection. And, since you’re now ready with trucks that will have a clean inspection, you’re helping yourself get better scores. Faster too. That helps the fleet get to where it wants to get.
Okay. The benefits of bypass have been laid out. But does it really make sense for you? First, using bypass is no longer a gut feeling as to whether or not it works and has a good ROI.
Today, weigh station bypass providers offer free trials with analytics, showing the benefits and cost savings. It can tell you what trucks in your fleet should have bypass and which should not.
Once you’re enrolled, the service can provide a portal to actively manage bypasses, ensuring you’re only paying for the service for the trucks that truly need it. There is no waste. It also shows you the ROI for informed decision making. Studies we’ve done with fleets show savings of between $300 and $1,000 per truck per year.
Yes, the Top 25 know this. Weigh station bypass is in their playbook for operational efficiency and higher driver satisfaction.
