Summary
- CFS improved efficiency and reduced downtime across its 400-truck fleet.
- Implemented Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze) and Bestpass, cutting weigh station delays and simplifying toll management.
- Achieved 1,645 bypasses, 137 hours saved, and $14,300+ in monthly cost savings.
Crane Freight and Cartage is a full-service commercial transportation and warehousing provider headquartered in Houston. Since its founding in 2009, CFS has quickly grown its fleet and service offerings. With 24 strategic locations across the U.S., CFS works with a wide variety of customers, including those in energy, professional sports, air transportation, and automotive industries seeking local, regional, and national transportation services. CFS operates nearly 400 commercial vehicles across its locations, which range from Class 8 trucks to delivery vans to accommodate the specific needs of its customers. Approximately 80% of its fleet consists of Class 8 trucks, which can haul a diverse mix of freight with its dry van, reefer, drop deck, and flatbed trailers.
With much of its fleet running regionally and cross-country, CFS is proactive in identifying fleet management solutions that can help the company operate more efficiently by reducing operating costs, driver downtime, and administrative tasks associated with long-haul operations. A few of the solutions the company is keen on are toll management and weigh station bypass services through Fleetworthy’s Bestpass and Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze) solutions.
Time and Cost Savings Through Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze)
For CFS, utilizing a weigh station bypass service is a solution the company has relied on for several years to increase operational efficiency by reducing the amount of time drivers spend pulling into weigh stations and the operating costs associated with them. According to Liz Prasek, CFS Safety & Compliance Manager, CFS previously used PrePass for the service and switched to Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze) in 2019 so drivers could receive the service through an integration with its ELD provider and gain access to a larger network of weigh stations online with Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze), currently has more than 900 fixed and mobile weigh station sites in 48 states and provinces in its network.
“When we made the switch to Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze), we felt that since our ELD provider was integrated with Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze), our drivers would have an easier time knowing if they were granted permission to bypass weigh stations along their route since a visual and audible notification appear on the ELD. We also realized that with Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze), we would have access to more bypass opportunities since they have the largest bypass network.”
Liz Prasek, CFS Safety & Compliance Manager, CFS
According to Prasek, utilizing weigh station bypass service is a solution both drivers and company administrators find effective in increasing driver uptime and efficiency. In a recent monthly report from Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze) that details bypasses CFS trucks received, the report showed that the company trucks activated with PreClear bypassed more than 1,645 weigh station sites, for an average of 13 bypasses per truck. As a result, it reduced the time spent at weigh stations by approximately 137 hours. It’s estimated that the cost savings associated with bypassing those weigh stations helped CFS save more than $14,300 in operating expenses during that month alone.
“Time is money, and by enabling our drivers to bypass weigh stations along their route, we’re able to reduce downtime and operating costs associated with time otherwise spent idling at inspection sites,” said Prasek. “Drivers don’t like spending their time at weigh stations so PreClear is a service our drivers like having access to.”
Learn More About Weigh Station Bypass (formerly Drivewyze PreClear)
Keep your trucks moving with the largest weigh station bypass service in the US and Canada.
Managing Tolls Efficiently With Bestpass
In the office, there are many tasks and responsibilities associated with managing a large fleet dispersed throughout the country. With the majority of CFS trucks operating in areas where multiple tolling authorities are present, the company has relied on toll management solutions provided by Bestpass to simplify the processing of tolls received. According to Bill Mentzer, CFS Product Manager, CFS began using Bestpass in 2012, shortly after the company began making cross-country runs in states where tolls are present.
“When we began to grow the over-the-road segment of our operation, it became increasingly difficult to keep up with all the tolls we were receiving from tolling authorities throughout the country and needed a solution that would help us more effectively manage tolls,” said Mentzer. “We identified Bestpass as a service that would reduce the amount of time we spend on tolls and automate many of the tasks associated with toll management.”
According to Mentzer, approximately 60% of its fleet has Bestpass transponders installed, most of which are Bestpass’ Complete Pass, which covers 100% of major toll roads nationwide. CFS also uses Bestpass in trucks that operate regionally, where tolls are present.
By using Bestpass, CFS has access to Bestpass’s discounted toll rates and can more effectively track vehicles receiving tolls, so it can easily bill back customers for tolls trucks receive along their route.
Drivers don’t like spending their time at weigh stations is a service our drivers like having access to.
Liz Prasek — CFS Safety & Compliance Manager
“Since we have one account that consolidates all tolls received and toll data for each individual truck, we can more efficiently monitor where trucks are receiving tolls and pay all tolls since our account automatically withdraws funds to cover them,” said Mentzer. “Bestpass helps us be more efficient when it comes to managing tolls so we can spend more of our time focusing on other administrative tasks.”
Learn More About Toll Management (Formerly Bestpass)
Simplify toll processing, save time, and reduce costs with comprehensive toll management for your fleet across the U.S. and Canada.
Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze) and Bestpass, by Fleetworthy
Now that Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze) and Bestpass are united under one company — Fleetworthy — CFS is excited to see what’s in store for the two service providers as future product integration takes place.
“Anytime you can consolidate accounts and access to services is a good thing,” said Prasek. “We were happy to hear that Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze) and Bestpass are now part of a combined company and look forward to seeing how the company will integrate its services to complement each other. Both Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze) and Bestpass are great services we’ve relied on to ease the pain points of our operation.”
FAQs
What measurable results did Crane Freight and Cartage achieve after implementing Weigh Station Bypass (formerly Drivewyze PreClear) and Bestpass?
CFS recorded 1,645 bypasses in a month, saving about 137 driver hours and more than $14,300 in operating costs. With Bestpass, they consolidated tolls into one account, gained access to discounted rates, and used per-vehicle toll data to streamline payments and customer bill-backs.
Weigh Station Bypass vs. PrePass: why would a fleet switch, and how does ELD integration change the experience for drivers?
CFS switched from PrePass to Weigh Station Bypass to tap into a larger bypass network and to use its ELD integration. Drivers receive clear visual and audible ELD notifications when they’re granted a bypass, eliminating guesswork and extra hardware. The broader network also increases bypass opportunities.
How does weigh station bypass through an ELD notify drivers, and how much time can it realistically save each month?
The ELD displays visual and audible alerts to tell drivers when a bypass is granted. In one month, CFS trucks with PreClear received 1,645 bypasses, translating to roughly 137 hours saved across participating vehicles. That time otherwise would have been spent pulling into and idling at weigh stations.
How can a nationwide fleet cut weigh station delays and related operating costs without adding new hardware?
Activate Weigh Station Bypass through your existing ELD so drivers get in-cab notifications without extra transponders. CFS used this approach and, in a single month, saved about 137 hours and over $14,300 by bypassing 1,645 sites. The reduction in weigh station stops directly lowers driver downtime and fuel-wasting idle time.
What does Bestpass Complete Pass cover, and how does it simplify multi-state toll management for large fleets?
Bestpass Complete Pass covers 100% of major toll roads nationwide. For CFS, a single consolidated account captures all tolls with per-vehicle detail, applies discounted rates, auto-withdraws funds to avoid missed payments, and makes customer chargebacks straightforward.
Steps to streamline toll billing and customer chargebacks using a consolidated Bestpass account.
Equip trucks that run through toll regions with Bestpass transponders (CFS primarily uses Complete Pass). Use a single, consolidated account to collect all toll events and per-vehicle data, and enable automatic funding so payments are handled on time. Reconcile itemized toll data by unit, then bill back customers based on the trips and charges recorded.
Tools that help regional and long-haul fleets reduce driver downtime and admin workload.
Weigh Station Bypass (formerly Drivewyze) integrated with your ELD helps drivers skip eligible weigh stations and stay on the road. Bestpass simplifies tolls with nationwide coverage, discounted rates, consolidated billing, and per-vehicle reporting. CFS uses both solutions to keep trucks moving and back-office tasks manageable.
How do I estimate monthly savings and ROI from a weigh station bypass program for a Class 8-heavy fleet?
Use your provider’s monthly report to capture total bypasses and hours saved, then multiply hours saved by your all-in hourly operating cost to estimate dollar impact. Compare that figure to your subscription fees to determine ROI. As a reference point, CFS saw 1,645 bypasses, 137 hours saved, and more than $14,300 in one month; they run a fleet that is about 80% Class 8.
How extensive is the Weigh Station Bypass (formerly Drivewyze) network in the U.S. and Canada, and where is it available?
It’s the largest bypass network across the U.S. and Canada, with more than 900 fixed and mobile sites in 48 states and provinces. This reach increases the likelihood of receiving bypasses on regional and cross-country routes.
What should fleets expect now that Weigh Station Bypass (Drivewyze) and Bestpass are under Fleetworthy, any integration benefits to watch for?
Fleets can look for easier account consolidation and access to complementary services as integration progresses. CFS views the combined company as a chance to streamline how bypass and toll solutions work together, reducing friction for drivers and administrators.