A partnership with the Washington State Department of Transportation has allowed PrePass customers to bypass weigh stations that are part of the NorPass system.

The extended service adds 23 locations within Washington, Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, New York, and South Dakota. The NorPass system is transponder based and operated by WSDOT on behalf of the other states.

PrePass provider Help Inc. worked on a cooperative agreement with WSDOT to ensure that the PrePass transponder will work with the NorPass system and won’t require PrePass customers to use multiple devices. 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.”

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.

“We are excited to be entering into this partnership with Washington to expand bypass opportunities for PrePass customers,” said Karen Rasmussen, president and CEO of HELP Inc. “Safe fleets and drivers appreciate the time and fuel savings of PrePass as well as opportunities for interoperability of their transponders.”