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Drivewyze’s only option will be to install their own WIM systems

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – It seems that the ongoing saga over Missouri’s weigh-in motion (WIM) scales may have reached the finish line.

Members of both companies, Drivewyze and HELP, Inc., met with legislators and members of the Missouri Department of Transportation in the House Speaker’s Office Tuesday morning, and the general consensus on how the matter will move forward is that Drivewyze will have to install their own WIMs.

Rep. T.J. Berry was the sponsor of legislation regarding the weigh station industry this past session, and has continued fighting even after his bill died on the House floor.

Tuesday’s meeting did little to change anything in regarding Drivewyze’s wishes to share the WIM stations in Missouri, which are owned by HELP, Inc.

Missouri is the only state in the nation in which this is the case, as the WIM stations in the other states are owned by the state.

Richard McIntosh, speaking on behalf of Drivewyze, said the company will continue forward, as the only option left to them is installing their own system.

“That is what we’re going to do,” McIntosh said.

He said that they would prefer to reach an agreement to share the data with HELP, but the current RFP contract for the two companies stands in place.

As for when the installations could begin, McIntosh says that may take some time, noting that it would depend on the locations of the WIMs, weather, and how the installation would affect traffic.

McIntosh says that this route is an inconvenience to the traveling public to not have a conversation and try to avoid construction on Missouri highways.

“No one wants to sit in slow, crawling traffic when I-70 goes down to one lane, not to mention the accidents that inevitably happen from this situation,” he said.

However, Aaron Baker, who has represented HELP, Inc. in the matter, points to the installation of WIM systems in North Carolina, saying they’re not causing traffic or safety issues. He also notes that MoDOT looks into safety issues before any installation.

Here’s an overview of a weigh-in-motion (WIM) scale installation on Interstate 70 near Wabaunsee, KS. The average WIM installation time is estimated at four hours with total lane closure time of about 15 hours.