What is Drivewyze? [Drivewyze Coverage and Comparing Drivewyze vs PrePass]

Do you remember when the first iPhone came out? Or maybe, do you remember when you got your first smartphone? 

It was exciting, sure, but it was also quite the change. There was a bit of a learning curve as you adapted to the technology and learned how to make the most out of the new, innovative device.

As a truck driver, there’s a lot to keep track of. First and foremost, you have to ensure you’re getting to your destination safely. But also, you need to take advantage of different technologies to assist you. 

You’re probably using a GPS for direction and you have a tablet (or comparable device) to track your Hours of Service (HOS) to meet the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate. If you’re not tech-savvy, implementing new technology is just one more thing to figure out.

Anderson Trucking Service (ATS) recently switched from PrePass to Drivewyze and a lot of drivers have questions about what the technology is and how it works. Whether or not you’re an ATS driver, your carrier may have recently made the switch or may be considering the switch. You may have questions about the software. 

The tool is certainly effective in saving time and money, but it’s helpful to know how it works first. 

In this article, we’ll give you a comprehensive understanding of what Drivewyze is, how it works and how it compares to other similar technology.

What is Drivewyze?

Drivewyze is a company that provides weigh station bypass and inspection services for commercial vehicles. Drivewyze PreClear is a cloud-based service that uses GPS and other technologies to allow commercial truck drivers to bypass weigh stations and inspection sites if they are deemed to be in compliance with safety regulations. It’s North America’s largest weigh station bypass service. 

Utilizing this technology can help save time and fuel for drivers. It may also help to reduce congestion and improve safety on the roads by allowing more efficient and effective enforcement of safety regulations. Drivewyze is available in the U.S. and Canada and is used by thousands of carriers and drivers.

Drivewyze Safety+ is also an effective tool carriers can utilize alongside their Drivewyze service. It sends out location-based alerts to notify drivers of upcoming accidents. It also provides safety coaching tools for drivers. 

How Does Drivewyze Work?

Drivewyze is great technology because it runs on smartphones and tablets; there’s no need to use transponders any longer or purchase new devices. 

More than 800 weight stations and mobile inspection sites are supported by Drivewyze. Rather than having alerts come up on the transponder, it comes up on the tablet or computer device in your cab. This makes it a lot easier to see and interpret the alerts.

The system is easy to use as long as you understand a few key terms: bypass, pull-in and screening rules. Bypass means the driver can go past the weigh station. Pull-in means the driver must pull into the weigh station. Screening rules are a set of values used to determine whether a driver is pulled into a weigh station. 

When drivers are nearing one of these sites, you’ll receive heads-up alerts on your device when you’re two miles away and one mile away. After the heads-up alert, you’ll receive one of three instructions: bypass the weigh station, pull into the weigh station (unless it’s closed) or follow the instructions on electronic road signs.

When you’re nearing a non-Drivewyze site, you do still receive the heads-up alerts when you’re one or two miles from a weigh station. Instead of receiving one of three next steps, you’ll just receive an alert to follow the instructions on electronic road signs.

The system also has courtesy safety alerts to alert drivers about road congestion, hazardous areas and so on. 

You do need to turn your device sound on to receive audio alerts. 

Drivewyze Limitations and Restrictions

Whether or not you’re pulled into a weigh station is largely dependent on your carrier’s Inspection Selection System (ISS) score, which is tied to the carrier’s Compliance, Safety and Accountability (CSA) score. The higher the score — which can be found by running a carrier’s DOT number — the more likely a driver will be pulled into the weigh station for an inspection. 

Drivewyze does work at more than 800 sites and in most states — in fact, it works in more states than any other service — but there are some places it won’t work and drivers like you won’t get weigh station bypasses at these sites. 

Some states also operate different bypass programs, so drivers going through those states should expect service exceptions in these states. Below are a few examples. 

California, Alabama and Idaho don’t permit bypasses to carriers with an ISS score above 75. 

There is a Florida Ag bypass program you or your carrier may opt into. If so, you can receive a conditional bypass that’ll instruct you to bypass the weigh station unless you’re hauling agricultural loads or reefer units. (For reference, ATS has opted in.)

Georgia doesn’t utilize bypass services; it relies on roadside messaging.

New York utilizes rest stops as their inspection sites. Trucks won’t receive bypasses at this time. 

Keep in mind, drivers won’t receive bypasses during Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) programs throughout the year, like CVSA International Roadcheck (Blitz Week) or Brake Check Week or Operation Safe Driver Week. 

It’s also important to know that oversize and overweight loads must always pull into inspection sites except in a few state-based exceptions. 

Certain states require all drivers to pull in if they’re hauling a certain load. For instance, all hazmat loads need to be pulled into weigh stations in Arizona. 

For a list of other service exceptions, visit: https://drivewyze.com/bypass-restrictions/  

Drivewyze vs. PrePass

There are a few key differences between Drivewyze and PrePass, which is also commonly used by drivers. In fact, both systems are fairly common among carriers and drivers. 

Again, ATS recently switched from PrePass to Drivewyze. Here are some notable differences and similarities: 

Availability: PrePass is available in fewer sites (over 400) than Drivewyze (over 800 and currently in 46 states in the U.S. and in all Canadian provinces).

Bypass Criteria: Drivewyze uses different bypass criteria than PrePass, which may result in different rates of bypass opportunities for commercial vehicle drivers.

Integration: PrePass is integrated with many electronic toll collection systems, whereas Drivewyze is not currently integrated with any electronic toll collection systems, though they did recently partner with BestPass to streamline toll management. PrePass already has nationwide toll payment services and works with the truck’s transponder. 

Pricing: The pricing for both Drivewyze and PrePass can vary depending on usage, location and other factors, but the pricing structures for each service are different.

Mobile Integration: Drivewyze and PrePass both offer a mobile app that can be used on smartphones and tablets.

Partnerships: Drivewyze and PrePass both partner with similar companies.

User Experience: The user experience for each service may differ, depending on the devices and systems used, as well as the specific needs of the individual user. Drivewyze has more user-friendly alerts. 

Overall, both Drivewyze and PrePass provide similar services, but they have some key differences in terms of availability, bypass criteria, integration, pricing and user experience.

Understanding How CSA Scores and ISS Scores Influence Weigh Station Bypasses

Technology like Drivewyze helps drivers like you save time and fuel by allowing you to bypass weigh stations. With Drivewyze, you’ll receive easy-to-understand alerts informing you of upcoming weigh stations. It’ll also notify you of upcoming hazards on the road. 

PrePass is a popular alternative to Drivewyze but does have some notable differences. For example, it’s not available at as many sites as Drivewyze or in as many states. 

While it’s important to understand how the technology works, it’s also crucial to understand why you will or will not get pulled into a weigh station for an inspection. Drivers are pulled over primarily due to a high ISS score — meaning their carrier has a high CSA score due to a high number of safety violations. 

Learn more about how high CSA scores and high ISS scores have a direct impact on you and how you can help your carrier keep these scores low.