EDMONTON — Members of Alberta’s Partners in Compliance (PIC) program will soon be able to bypass more weigh stations in the province.

International Road Dynamics has signed an extension to a contract originally awarded in 2006 from Alberta Transportation for the supply, installation and maintenance of Pre-Clearance equipment at four additional locations in the province.

As a result of this contract, IRD will have supplied and installed a total of 20 Pre-Clearance Systems at 16 Commercial Vehicle Inspection and Weigh Station locations throughout the Province.

The equipment to be provided consists of radio frequency identification (RFID) equipment to allow commercial vehicles enrolled in the PIC program to bypass weigh stations. PIC carriers can elect to carry an electronic identification transponder in each truck. This transponder will issue a "green light" to those trucks that are authorized to bypass each weigh station.

The additional systems are planned to be installed and operational in the spring of 2010 and under this contract IRD will provide maintenance for the subsequent three years.

"We are proud to continue to be a part of this unique partnership which will continue to save truck operators both time and money while improving the effectiveness of weigh station operations,” says Terry Bergan, president and CEO of IRD.

“In addition, the expansion of the Alberta Pre-Clearance network contributes to green house emission reductions as commercial vehicles do not have to stop at each weigh station."

PIC members were given a few other perks earlier this spring when it was revealed the province would begin putting an "excellent" rating on a fleet’s Carrier Profile, and eliminating the $11 government fee for pulling a driver abstract, although the registry office fee will remain.

While $11 doesn’t seem like much on the surface, PIC director Lane Kranenburg points out that "if you have hundreds of driver abstracts to pull that $11 starts to add up."

As well as the new benefits, members of PIC are offered 98 percent weigh scale bypass privileges, no cost access to their Carrier Profiles, and permit fee elimination at licensed CVIP inspection shops.

To become a PIC member, a company must have a recent external NSC audit with a high passing mark, as well as a Certificate of Recognition (COR) audit. After the audits are complete, an interview is held with company executives, the safety director and the manintenance manager. After which a recommendation is made to the PIC Membership Committee.

With all the benefits in place, Kranenburg now is working on building reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions.

The Alberta PIC program is close to having a reciprocal agreement in place with B.C.’s Green Light Transportation System, and is looking to get something worked out with the NORPASS program that’s operational in the U.S. northwest. Alberta is also working with representatives in Saskatchewan and Manitoba to drum up interest in creating similar programs in their provinces.

Coincidentally, the Saskatoon-based IRD is also providing the technology behind B.C.’s Green Light Transportation System. The company is also providing service throughout the U.S. and overseas.