Salt Lake City, Utah (May 30, 2008) –Utah’s adoption of PrePass truck technology two years ago has reduced greenhouse gas and related emissions by more than 4.5 million pounds. Based on the programs projected success, PrePass is anticipated to cut emissions during the next decade by an estimated 60 million pounds, the equivalent of eliminating all emissions from more than 1,500 households per year.
The deployment of PrePass technology is another great success story for Utah’s Department of Transportation (UDOT) according to Governor Jon Huntsman. “Utah’s decision to deploy PrePass is making Utah highways safer, cleaner and more efficient for us all.”
PrePass is a sophisticated technology that enables qualified motor carriers to comply electronically with Utah’s weight, safety and credential requirements at highway speeds. Motor carrier participation is strictly voluntary and carrier eligibility is subject to strict safety qualifications.
Since its deployment by UDOT in March 2006, PrePass has saved carriers more than $11 million in operational costs, including fuel savings of more than 930,000 gallons. By enabling enforcement personnel to concentrate on those trucks most likely to be non compliant, and by reducing lane-changing and congestion around weigh stations, PrePass can also make highways safer for all motorists.
By lessening dependence on foreign sources of oil and reducing greenhouse emissions by reducing fuel consumption and idling inherent to waiting in inspection queues, PrePass has made a contribution to a cleaner Utah. Based on EPA engine idle reduction estimates, since its inception in 1995, PrePass has reduced emissions by more than 558 million pounds.
Launched in California in 1995, PrePass® is now operational at 280 sites in 29 states including: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
More than 425,000 trucks have voluntarily enrolled in PrePass to take advantage of the time and money saving benefits.
HELP, Inc. is a non-profit organization that created and oversees the operation of PrePass – the nation’s weigh station bypass system. HELP is a partnership between state law enforcement, DOT and private industry. ACS is a partner to HELP, Inc. serving as the venture capitalist and system operator for the PrePass system. With more than 60,000 employees in over 100 nations, ACS is a recognized global leader in the technology and business process outsourcing sectors. In Utah, ACS employs 2200 people between the two offices located in Sandy and Draper, including 75 service professionals dedicated to the ongoing service and operations for the national PrePass program.