PrePass
Encyclopedia
PrePass is an intelligent transportation system (ITS)
service that electronically verifies the safety, credentials, and weight of commercial vehicles at participating state highway weigh station
s. Because they comply electronically, commercial carriers enrolled in PrePass are authorized to bypass these facilities rather than pull in for manual inspection.
PrePass is available to motor carriers at nearly 300 facilities in 30 states. http://www.prepass.com/services/prepass/SiteInformation/Pages/PrepassSites.aspx
, mounted on the interior windshield with double-sided tape or dual-lock strips. These devices are similar to the transponders used for electronic toll collection
. As a PrePass vehicle approaches an equipped facility, an electronic "reader" on a boom over the freeway interrogates the transponder. Information associated with the transponder is then validated against state-required safety and credentials requirements. Weigh-in-Motion (WIM)
technology is also used at many locations to verify the truck’s configuration and ensure its axle and gross vehicle weight are within acceptable limits.
As the truck passes beneath another electronic “reader” nearer the inspection point, the in-cab transponder receives a signal indicating whether the vehicle is authorized to bypass. If the vehicle’s credentials, safety, and weight data are all in order, a green light advises the driver to bypass the facility. If the vehicle is required to pull-in for inspection, a red light alerts the driver to stop for processing, just as trucks without PrePass do.
Only motor carriers that provide valid operating credentials and have an acceptable safety history are allowed to participate in PrePass.
A service that utilizes a “fusion” transponder to allow vehicles to pay toll fees electronically at E-ZPass
facilities, in addition to bypassing PrePass facilities.
PrePass Gates (formerly GatePass)
A program designed by PrePass that automates entry and exit gates to motor carrier terminals using a PrePass transponder. PrePass Gates identifies approaching trucks and grants access or egress to approved vehicles while logging each truck and/or trailer by date and time.
PrePass Ag (formerly AgPass)
Enables participating, qualified carriers to bypass Agricultural Interdiction Facilities throughout the state of Florida. Provided through a partnership with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).
PrePass eLOGS
A log scanning, auditing, and reporting service.
Intelligent transportation system
The term intelligent transportation systems refers to information and communication technology that improve transport outcomes such as transport safety, transport productivity, travel reliability, informed travel choices, social equity, environmental performance and network operation...
service that electronically verifies the safety, credentials, and weight of commercial vehicles at participating state highway weigh station
Weigh station
A weigh station is a checkpoint along a highway to inspect vehicular weights. Usually, trucks and commercial vehicles are subject to the inspection....
s. Because they comply electronically, commercial carriers enrolled in PrePass are authorized to bypass these facilities rather than pull in for manual inspection.
PrePass is available to motor carriers at nearly 300 facilities in 30 states. http://www.prepass.com/services/prepass/SiteInformation/Pages/PrepassSites.aspx
Technology and functionality
The only equipment required for a truck to participate in PrePass is a vehicle-specific transponderTransponder
In telecommunication, the term transponder has the following meanings:...
, mounted on the interior windshield with double-sided tape or dual-lock strips. These devices are similar to the transponders used for electronic toll collection
Electronic toll collection
Electronic toll collection , an adaptation of military "identification friend or foe" technology, aims to eliminate the delay on toll roads by collecting tolls electronically. It is thus a technological implementation of a road pricing concept...
. As a PrePass vehicle approaches an equipped facility, an electronic "reader" on a boom over the freeway interrogates the transponder. Information associated with the transponder is then validated against state-required safety and credentials requirements. Weigh-in-Motion (WIM)
Weigh in motion
Weigh-in-motion or Weighing in Motion devices are designed to capture and record axle weights and gross vehicle weights as vehicles drive over a measurement site...
technology is also used at many locations to verify the truck’s configuration and ensure its axle and gross vehicle weight are within acceptable limits.
As the truck passes beneath another electronic “reader” nearer the inspection point, the in-cab transponder receives a signal indicating whether the vehicle is authorized to bypass. If the vehicle’s credentials, safety, and weight data are all in order, a green light advises the driver to bypass the facility. If the vehicle is required to pull-in for inspection, a red light alerts the driver to stop for processing, just as trucks without PrePass do.
Only motor carriers that provide valid operating credentials and have an acceptable safety history are allowed to participate in PrePass.
Enrollment qualifications
To enroll in PrePass, a carrier must submit an application and provide copies of certain standard operating credentials (e.g. Vehicle Registration Cards, IFTA License, etc). Customers pay for system costs through monthly service fees that allow them an unlimited number of bypasses. There are no charges for the PrePass transponders, no application or enrollment fees, and no long-term contracts.Additional services
PrePass PlusA service that utilizes a “fusion” transponder to allow vehicles to pay toll fees electronically at E-ZPass
E-ZPass
E-ZPass is an electronic toll-collection system used on most tolled roads, bridges, and tunnels in the northeastern US, south to Virginia and West Virginia, and west to Illinois. Currently, there are 25 agencies spread across 14 states that make up the . All member agencies use the same technology,...
facilities, in addition to bypassing PrePass facilities.
PrePass Gates (formerly GatePass)
A program designed by PrePass that automates entry and exit gates to motor carrier terminals using a PrePass transponder. PrePass Gates identifies approaching trucks and grants access or egress to approved vehicles while logging each truck and/or trailer by date and time.
PrePass Ag (formerly AgPass)
Enables participating, qualified carriers to bypass Agricultural Interdiction Facilities throughout the state of Florida. Provided through a partnership with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).
PrePass eLOGS
A log scanning, auditing, and reporting service.