Case study featuring Phoenix Transportation and PrePass toll payment services.

Mark Barnes, Vice President of Safety and Recruiting
Case Study | Phoenix Transportation Case Study | Phoenix Transportation

Phoenix Transportation simplifies toll payments and the dispute process with PrePass.

Dry Van and
Flatbed Freight

INDUSTRY
120 tractors, 13 owner-operators, 300 trailers 150 employees
COMPANY SIZE
Georgetown, KY

LOCATION
Since

1998
PREPASS CUSTOMER
Phoenix Transportation has been a PrePass customer for about 20 years. Mark Barnes, the company’s vice-president of safety and recruiting, knows better than most people what it’s like to have the convenience of weigh station bypassing and toll payment services – and then suddenly being without both.
That’s because there was a nearly two-year period when the Georgetown, Kentucky fleet had discontinued PrePass Plus. According to Barnes, this made managing tolls for himself and the other 150 employees, “pretty cumbersome to manage on our own.”
“We were in desperate need of getting our Compliance Safety and Accountability (CSA) scores better,” Barnes said. “So we dropped PrePass entirely. This would force our drivers to go into the scales and hopefully get clean inspections to help raise our score.”

“Because our drivers like PrePass so much, I know they want to do everything they can to keep it in their trucks. That helps us keep our fleet safety scores where they need to be and keeps them happy.”

While the plan paid off with better CSA scores, looking back, Barnes said he realizes he should have used a better strategy. Phoenix Transportation should have at least kept the toll payment service portion of its PrePass service. That’s because, according to him, PrePass is not only a favorite of drivers, but its absence resulted in other problems. “We had to make sure we paid tolls including getting receipts and dealing with toll violations. It was a pain,” he said, taking up a lot of his time and that of others at the fleet.
Dealing with toll violations without having PrePass service was especially painful because it took up so much time Barnes said. For example, it is not uncommon for a truck to be charged the wrong toll. “The tolling companies would send toll violations repeatedly, with different statement IDs, and if you didn’t watch it, you would end up paying the same toll twice.”
When Phoenix Transportation returned to PrePass, Barnes said that pain went away. PrePass was able to handle all the disputes which resulted in “a lot of time saved on my end.”
According to Barnes, another benefit of having PrePass toll payment service is the toll discounts Phoenix Transportation receives as well as the wide area of coverage the service offers. “We upgraded to PrePass Plus because our freight changed and we expanded more out West. We more frequently were incurring tolls from multiple toll authorities.” Consolidating these made good business sense.
After temporarily removing the PrePass service, Barnes said he completely understands the benefits of PrePass Plus, which for them includes the PrePass weigh station bypass service combined with the toll payment service.
“It’s a plus for our drivers not having to stop at the scales and go through that hassle,” he said. “It’s a luxury to bypass and save time from not stopping.” Barnes said this is especially true now. Phoenix, like so many other fleets, is using electronic driver logs, forcing drivers to strictly adhere to operating on a 14-day schedule. This is something he said shippers and receivers don’t always understand. The longer a truck sits at a weigh station, the greater chance the driver will miss a pick up or delivery window.
Barnes also credits PrePass weigh station bypass service with helping Phoenix Transportation keep its CSA scores low. It’s a real incentive for drivers. One incentive program he is considering reviving is to require drivers to maintain good inspections in order to keep the PrePass services on their truck. The drivers value the service so it helps reinforce good behavior while also helping with driver retention and recruiting.
“Because our drivers like PrePass so much, I know they want to do everything they can to keep it in their trucks,” he said. “That helps us keep our fleet safety scores where they need to be and keeps them happy.”
PREPASS SERVICES
  • Weigh Station Bypass
  • Toll Payment Service
BUSINESS NEED
Toll statements from multiple agencies, incorrect charges and toll disputes were becoming increasingly complex and time consuming.
BUSINESS SOLUTION
PrePass Plus combines weigh station bypass with the toll payment service using one transponder and one bill.
BUSINESS RESULTS
The company spends
less time reconciling toll statements and disputing charges. Drivers also spend less time waiting at scale houses, saving money while improving driver satisfaction.

We want to help.

Call and speak with one of our U.S.-based customer service representatives to get started.

1-800-PrePass
(1-800-773-7277)

Case Study | J & M Tank Lines

Driving efficiency:
How J & M Tank Lines streamlines operations with PrePass bypass and toll management.

Russell Curbo,
VP of Safety & Compliance

j&m banner
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INDUSTRY

Dry bulk freight

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COMPANY SIZE

500+ Trucks

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LOCATION

Birmingham, AL

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PP CUSTOMER

Since 2017

PREPASS SERVICES
  • PrePass Bypass
  • PrePass Toll Management
BUSINESS NEEDS

Weigh station delays, rising toll costs, limited visibility into both bypass and toll charges, and driver burnout were cutting into
J & M Tank Line’s efficiency and impacting their bottom line.

BUSINESS SOLUTION

J & M implemented PrePass Plus, a bundled solution that combines weigh station bypass and toll management, across their fleet to streamline operations, save time and money, and improve driver satisfaction.

BUSINESS RESULTS
In the past 12-months, J & M
  • Received over 14k bypasses
  • Saved $152k in operational costs
  • Saved $37k in fuel

while boosting driver and staff satisfaction, leading to higher retention.

A reputation for safety and operational excellence

J & M Tank Lines, a Birmingham, AL-based bulk carrier, specializes in transporting chemical and dry goods across the Southeastern U.S. Known for its high safety standards, operational excellence, and driver-first culture, J & M runs a high-compliance fleet that crosses multiple state lines every day.

Recognizing the need for a better approach

As the demands of modern trucking continued to grow, the team at J & M knew they needed a more effective way to boost efficiency, control costs, and support their drivers—so they turned to PrePass.

“There’s a lot of different choices for things we can use, and we chose PrePass,” said Zack Krause, Operations Manager. “They provide us the technology, they’re innovative, and there’s a lot of data that we can get right at our fingertips.”

Bypassing delays and keeping drivers moving

Operating in a region with numerous weigh stations and toll plazas, J & M was no stranger to operational roadblocks. Delays at weigh stations were eating into valuable drive time and putting delivery schedules at risk. With PrePass’ industry-leading bypass technology, trucks kept on schedule and reduced idling, lowering fuel costs and equipment wear. Drivers experienced fewer interruptions, less frustration, and more predictable schedules.

Empowering safety decisions with actionable insights

Along with reliable bypasses, INFORMTM Safety added another layer of value, delivering data-backed insights into inspection history, ISS scores, and CSA trends—helping the safety team make more informed decisions.

“PrePass gives us the ability to be a proactive company, and make sure we’re operating as safe and efficient as we possibly can,” said Russell Curbo, VP of Safety & Compliance.

Simplifying toll management and reducing costs

Tolling was another area ready for improvement. J & M adopted PrePass Toll Management, which consolidated billing across multiple agencies into a single monthly invoice. This reduced administrative workload, simplified dispute resolution, and minimized
costly errors—freeing staff to focus on higher-priority tasks.

A seamless rollout across the fleet

J & M implemented PrePass fleetwide, leveraging both transponders and the PrePass Mobile App to maximize bypass opportunities. With hands-on support from the PrePass team, the transition was smooth. Onboarding for drivers and managers ensured everyone was set up for success and the platform was fully integrated into daily operations.

“As we continue to grow, we know PrePass will be right there alongside us,” said Krause.

Results that drive savings

The impact was immediate. Trucks spent less time at weigh stations, fuel consumption dropped, and toll management became faster and easier. Across the organization, teams gained confidence and the insights they needed to make better decisions—improving both performance and peace of mind.

A lasting partnership built for success

Partnering with PrePass has helped J & M Tank Lines create a more efficient, data-driven operation—one that’s centered around drivers and aligned with the company’s unwavering commitment to safety and service.

We want to help.

Ready to improve your fleet’s efficiency, safety,
and driver satisfaction?

Call one of our U.S.-based customer service representatives to get started.

1-800-PrePass

(1-800-773-7277)