The Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador recently adopted weighing station bypass technology from Drivewyze, breaking open a market that has seen little penetration up to now. With Drivewyze only enabled in two other provinces so far, the deal signals potential for rapid expansion across Canada by bypassing service providers.
Centralized Safety Data is an Obstacle in Canada
Unlike in the U.S., where weigh station bypass is common, the technology has faced barriers to adoption across Canadian provinces. A key factor is the decentralized nature of truck safety records, with no equivalent to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that standardizes data at the federal level. Brian Mofford, Drivewyze’s vice president of government experience, said this means safety information is “not freely shared” between provinces.
Without integrated safety records accessible to bypass verification services, trucks end up stopping at weigh stations multiple times daily even when already cleared, an inefficient process these provinces now aim to eliminate.
Drivewyze’s Role Bridging Provincial Data Silos
With its latest deal, Drivewyze can compile safety information across three Canadian provinces where it operates and share relevant data to enable smoother cross-border trucking. This helps “bridge the gap” caused by fragmented information flows, said Mofford. While weigh-in-motion (WIM) capabilities were not part of the Newfoundland agreement, the foundation is now in place for advanced weigh station services.
Competition is Heating Up North of The Border
Mofford hinted at upcoming partnership announcements as Drivewyze kicks off conversations with all remaining provinces. With the U.S. market largely saturated among dominant players Drivewyze and PrePass, Canada represents a new battleground offering substantial room for expansion for first-movers. Streamlining cross-border shipments also holds major appeal for provinces hoping to smooth trade.
The Path Forward Province by Province
Mofford noted that launching bypass protocols requires navigating complex regulatory hurdles specific to each province. But with Newfoundland demonstrating the technology’s value proposition, he expects other provinces to aggressively pursue integration. The time-saving benefits for drivers could also accelerate adoption. According to Mofford, trucks sometimes need to check in at the same weigh station four times a day under status quo processes, which technology can now eliminate.
As Canada overcomes data-sharing barriers, the door appears open for rapid scale-up of weigh station technology much as already seen south of the border. Drivewyze and its competitors have a golden opportunity to grab market share if they tailor their offerings to individual provinces. With three provinces now on board, all eyes turn to who will be next to modernize weigh station operations.
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