J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., one of the largest transportation logistics companies in North America, will install PrePass, the U.S. weigh station bypass service, on nearly 8,500 tractors
within the company’s Truck and Dedicated Contract Services (DCS) operating groups.
This will make J.B. Hunt one of the nation’s largest PrePass carriers.
"PrePass will help us meet some key objectives as we continue to work on enhancing the safety of our operations, eliminate waste from the driver's work schedule, and conserve fuel," said Craig Harper, chief operating officer for J.B. Hunt.
PrePass is a sophisticated technology that enables qualified motor carriers to comply electronically with state weight, safety and credential requirements while traveling at highway speeds. More than 250,000 vehicles throughout the U.S. have enrolled in PrePass.
J.B. Hunt has used the PrePass technology since 1998. Over the last several years, a select group of 1,000 tractors, comprised from the company’s truck group and independent contractors, have realized significant time and fuel savings as a result of using the service.
"We are thrilled that J.B. Hunt has expanded their PrePass deployment," said Dick Landis, president and CEO of HELP Inc., the public-private partnership sponsoring PrePass. "Being a safe carrier has it rewards – the company’s drivers and independent contractors will save time, money, and fuel by not having to stop at weigh stations. For the trucking industry, this contributes to quicker turnarounds, adding more routes, greater customer satisfaction and, most importantly, an increase in profits."
Only motor carriers with proven safety records qualify to participate in PrePass, and participation is voluntary. As qualified trucks approach a PrePass-equipped inspection facility, an in-cab transponder identifies the vehicle to a computer, which verifies compliance with state requirements. Vehicles in compliance receive a green light on the in-cab transponder instructing them to bypass the inspection facility without ever slowing down.
PrePass-equipped trucks are bypassing weigh stations more than 2.4 million times each month, and the industry’s time and fuel savings associated with these bypasses are staggering. A truck saves at least five minutes and roughly one-half gallon of fuel with each successful bypass. That means PrePass saves the industry 2.4 million hours of productive time and nearly 12 million gallons of fuel each year.
Additional information is available by calling (800) PrePass (773-7277).