Drivewyze announced a new partnership with the Manitoba Department of Transportation and Infrastructure that will bring PreClear weigh station bypass service to eight locations in the province.

The service, bundled with bypass services already offered in Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador, will expand the bypass network in Canada to freight corridors in Manitoba.

“We’re partnering with Canadian provinces to expand bypass programs across Canada, with Manitoba representing a key geography for the trucking community,” said Brian Mofford, Drivewyze’s vice-president of government experience, in a news release. “We hope to bring more provinces on board soon to fulfill our goal of having complete coverage in Canada.”

Drivewyze also offers bypass services in Alberta and at 900 locations across 48 states in the U.S.

Subscribed trucks with Canadian or U.S. plates will have bypass opportunities at eight locations, including:

• West Hawk Lake Hwy-1 EB
• West Hawk Lake Hwy-1 WB
• Emerson Hwy-75 NB
• Emerson Hwy-75 SB 
• Carroll Hwy-2 EB
• Carroll Hwy-2 WB
• Headingley Hwy-1 EB
• Headingley Hwy-1 WB

Four bypass locations are positioned along the Trans-Canada Highway, which covers 490 kilometers through Manitoba.

“Freight efficiency is a key measure for all trucking companies and weigh station bypass can shave off valuable minutes or even hours in some cases,” Mofford said, adding the bypass sites represent the busiest areas for truck traffic, especially the Headingley Highway 1 east and westbound lanes. 

“This is just west of Winnipeg, and it’s by far the busiest of the four scale locations,” he said. “The Emerson Highway 75 location is important too, as it’s the port of entry from the U.S. heading north in Manitoba, with southbound travel going into North Dakota and Minnesota.”

Garth Pitzel, Bison Transport’s associate vice-president of safety and driver development, said the fleet applauds the government for adopting the weigh station bypass program, saying, “We’re excited about bypass opportunities now being available in Manitoba.”

“Scale bypass programs that allow carriers with solid safety records to operate more efficiently are a win for them and the industry. These programs allow motor carrier enforcement to focus their efforts where they need to be — on trucking companies with poor safety records,” added Aaron Dolyniuk, Manitoba Trucking Association executive director.

“Rewarding safe companies for their efforts makes good sense.”