When Hurricane Helene tore through the Carolinas in September 2024, it became one of the most destructive storms in the region’s history. Spanning hundreds of miles from the Appalachian foothills to the Atlantic coast, Helene unleashed more than two feet of rain in some areas, triggering catastrophic flooding, landslides, and widespread infrastructure failure.
Entire mountain communities were cut off as interstates like I-26 and I-40 became impassable, while thousands of bridges and roadways sustained severe damage. For state agencies and carriers alike, the challenge wasn’t just cleaning up after the storm—it was preventing catastrophe as it unfolded across an entire region.
Leaders from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), Stevens Transport, and John Van Nortwick from Fleetworthy shared how proactive, real-time alerts powered by Drivewyze by Fleetworthy helped fleets stay safe and operational throughout the disaster.
Turning Data into Action
Natasha Henderson, TSMO Planning Engineer with NCDOT, described how her team leveraged Drivewyze’s in-cab alerting platform to communicate critical information directly to commercial drivers in real time. Those alerts are delivered to drivers free of charge through the Drivewyze Free program, which is sponsored in part by state agencies like NCDOT.
“Our traditional tools – dynamic message signs and radio broadcasts – can’t always keep up during a fast-moving disaster,” Henderson explained. “With Drivewyze, we could speak directly to truck drivers in the cab. During Hurricane Helene, we used the system to tell drivers where to avoid, and how to reroute safely around road closures and washed-out bridges.”
To protect drivers, NCDOT created detour maps for truck routes, identified safe alternatives, and strategically placed Drivewyze alert zones.
“We sent over 724,000 alerts to more than 200,000 drivers and reduced truck volumes by 90% in the impacted areas,” Henderson said. “That meant fewer stranded drivers, fewer accidents, and faster recovery.”
Fleets That Stayed Ahead of the Storm
For Stevens Transport, proactive alerting was the difference between disruption and disaster. Senior Director of Safety Ken Resta explained how his team leveraged custom alerts in Drivewyze Safety+, our premium safety alert solution, to build geofenced warning zones around the storm before it made landfall.
“We started our preparedness a day or two in advance,” Resta said. “By creating a perimeter outside the projected damage area and layering our own Safety+ geofences on top of the state’s alerts, our drivers had accurate, real-time information before conditions deteriorated. The result: no losses of equipment, no losses of life.”
He noted that the instant recognition of Fleetworthy’s alert symbol prompted immediate driver awareness.
“The yellow triangle pops up, and drivers know instantly it is serious. That simple notification helps them make better, faster decisions.”
The Power of Proactive Communication
As Resta shared, the success of proactive safety systems isn’t just in the technology—it’s in the culture it builds. “The value of your drivers knowing that you care enough to accept a reroute or an extra half-day delay for their safety is huge,” he said. “When carriers are flexible and safety-first, drivers respond in kind.”
John Van Nortwick, Director of Sales Solutions Engineering at Fleetworthy, underscored the power of proactive alerting. “Every storm is different, but the principle is the same: when agencies and fleets collaborate through technology, they can prevent loss, protect drivers, and keep freight moving.”
A Model for Future Resilience
The Hurricane Helene response demonstrates the transformative potential of real-time data sharing between public infrastructure agencies and private fleets. By uniting platforms with intelligent geofencing and proactive communication, fleets can anticipate severe weather rather than simply reacting to it.
In an industry where every minute counts, delivering timely in-cab alerts before potential hazards doesn’t just improve efficiency; it protects lives.
About Fleetworthy
Fleetworthy is redefining fleet readiness with trusted solutions that deliver fleet safety, compliance, and efficiency. With the only technology suite combining safety, compliance, toll management, and weigh station bypass, we enable fleets to simplify operations and perform at their best.
Already trusted by 75% of the top fleets in North America, Fleetworthy offers the largest bypass network and the most complete and adopted toll management solution. Our technology helps fleets reduce delays, cut operating costs, and gain critical financial visibility. Going beyond regulatory requirements, our compliance capabilities enhance fleet safety, reduce risk, and support proactive audit readiness.
Fleetworthy supports millions of vehicles and drivers and is recognized across the industry for innovation and leadership. Learn more at fleetworthy.com/.