BarOle Trucking Boosts Efficiency and Cuts Costs

BarOle Trucking is a for-hire intermodal carrier that hauls international freight on ocean-going containers in the Midwest from two rail yards in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Founded in 1984, BarOle is the largest intermodal carrier in the Twin Cities metro area. BarOle has 25 company vehicles, and 45 owner operators.

Challenge

Ordinarily, a good safety score would be something to celebrate. But for Minnesota State Police’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section, BarOle’s good safety score meant that the time officers spent looking at their trucks could have been time better spent on other trucks that deserved the attention. That’s why in 2014 CVE officials recommended that BarOle try weigh station bypass service.

Additionally, with unpredictable volumes of intermodal freight arriving from the West Coast ports by train in St. Paul, BarOle needed ways to remove inefficiencies in its trucking operation.

With a more efficient operation, BarOle trucks can meet the challenge of moving more freight without weigh station delays even when volumes can be so unpredictable.

Solution

“I was floored when Minnesota State Police CVE Section told us how Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze) could help us avoid going into their weigh stations over and over again.”

“I didn’t even think the State of Minnesota offered weigh station bypass. But when they explained it to me, I understood. Their inspectors knew the conditions of our trucks because we’d been through the stations multiple times a day. They knew we ran a consistently safe operation. So they didn’t want their inspectors looking at our trucks every day when there are so many others that need their scrutiny.”

BarOle Trucking activated the weigh station bypass service.

Initially starting with six company-owned trucks, now, 17 of 25 BarOle trucks are equipped with Drivewyze.

The trucks travel to and from Wisconsin, past three weigh stations on I-94 between St. Paul and Eau Claire, Wisconsin, multiple times each day.

Result

In the first 20 months after activating Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze) in July 2014, BarOle obtained substantial savings and operational efficiencies:

• Returned 330 hours of drive-time to the operation
• Reduced wear and tear on truck engines and transmissions by not having to stop at weigh stations
• Realized a savings of over $24,000 in operating costs
• Increased the productivity of their out-of-state division trucks by up to four additional loads each month
• Avoided an average of nearly 17 hours in weigh station delays each month

“The drivers who run our out-of-state division (intermodal) trucks love Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze) because it allows them to stay on the road making money. It’s easy for them to use because it’s loaded on their tablets and it works in the background. They don’t have to do anything except turn on their tablets. Plus, there’s no transponder for us to keep track of.”

“Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze) significantly reduces the chances that our trucks get sidelined for an inspection. Before we got Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze), we would see three or four of our trucks get pulled for visual inspections each month. And anytime you have to go through an inspection, it’s automatically an hour of down time. With Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze), we don’t have that uncertainty anymore.”

FAQs

How did BarOle Trucking cut weigh station delays and operating costs using Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze)?

BarOle activated weigh station bypass after a recommendation from Minnesota’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement team. By equipping 17 of 25 trucks with Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze), the fleet received automated bypasses at recurring scales, especially on I-94. Fewer stops translated into less idle time, lower operating costs, and returned drive-time for revenue moves.

What measurable results did BarOle see after 20 months with weigh station bypass (hours saved, cost savings, added loads per month)?

Over 20 months, BarOle returned 330 hours of drive-time and saved over $24,000 in operating costs. The fleet avoided nearly 17 hours of weigh station delays per month and increased productivity by up to four additional loads monthly. They also reduced engine and transmission wear by skipping repeated stop-and-go at scales.

Is weigh station bypass available on I-94 between St. Paul and Eau Claire, and how did BarOle use it across those scales?

Yes. BarOle’s trucks pass three weigh stations on I-94 between St. Paul and Eau Claire multiple times daily and use Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze) to receive automated bypasses at those sites. This consistent coverage helped them keep cycles tight and avoid repeated delays.

For fleets with strong safety scores, how can weigh station bypass reduce inspections and downtime?

Agencies can prioritize inspections for carriers with higher risk, so fleets with strong safety scores often qualify for frequent bypasses. Before Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze), BarOle saw three to four trucks pulled for visual inspections each month, each costing about an hour. With bypass, those unplanned stops dropped, reducing downtime and uncertainty.

What are the practical benefits of tablet-based weigh station bypass with no transponder for small and mid-size fleets?

Drivers run the app on existing tablets, and it works in the background, so there’s nothing extra to mount or manage. Fleets avoid transponder logistics, reduce hardware costs, and make deployment easier across company trucks and owner-operators. BarOle’s drivers valued the simplicity and the time saved.

What steps can a fleet take to pilot weigh station bypass on a few trucks and then roll it out fleetwide?

Start with a small group of trucks to validate time savings, bypass rates, and driver adoption, BarOle began with six vehicles. Track metrics like hours returned, delays avoided, and added loads per month. Once the ROI is clear, expand to more units, as BarOle did with 17 of 25 trucks.

Case study request: How did a Minnesota intermodal carrier increase truck productivity by up to four extra loads per month?

BarOle, a Twin Cities intermodal carrier, equipped trucks with Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze) to avoid recurring weigh station stops on I-94. The time saved translated into up to four additional loads per month for out-of-state division trucks. Over 20 months, they also saved more than $24,000 and returned 330 hours of drive-time.

How does skipping scale stops help reduce engine and transmission wear in day-to-day operations?

Each weigh station stop adds braking, idling, and gear changes that create heat and component stress. By bypassing scales, trucks avoid frequent stop-and-go cycles, which reduces wear on engines and transmissions. BarOle cited lower mechanical strain as a key operational benefit.

For intermodal carriers facing unpredictable rail volumes, what operational changes help keep trucks moving without delays at scales?

Enable weigh station bypass to minimize non-revenue stops during volume spikes. Keep safety scores strong to qualify for more bypasses and reduce the chance of inspections that sideline trucks. BarOle used tablet-based bypass to maintain flow during volatile rail arrivals, converting saved minutes into completed loads.

Is PreClear the same as “Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze),” and how is it deployed in-cab?

Yes, Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze) is the weigh station bypass program referenced as “Weigh Station Bypass (Formerly Drivewyze)” in the article. BarOle deployed it on driver tablets, where it runs in the background and provides bypass notifications. No separate transponder is required.