Key Takeaways
- Two freight corridors in Arkansas will be getting AI-powered technology to streamline the inspection of commercial vehicles in a deal between the Arkansas Department of Transportation and Quarterhill, a transport technology provider.
- The corridors are two of the busiest in the nation and, by implementing this technology, it’s hoped that the state can better handle increasing freight volume.
- According to Tech.co research, freight demand is increasing – therefore, this initiative could pave the way for others across the US.
Two Arkansas freight corridors will be getting AI-powered inspection technology, in a deal between the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) and transport technology provider Quarterhill.
The new system will include advanced technology, such as weight sensors, licence plate registration, and tire classification systems that work in real-time.
If successful, ARDOT and Quarterhill hope the initiative will improve safety and streamline the inspection of commercial vehicles. As some freight professionals report demand increasing, this could be an example of early adoption before more states integrate this kind of tech.
Arkansas and Quarterhill Partner To Bring AI Inspection Tech to Freight Corridors
The deal between ARDOT and transportation technology provider Quarterhill is worth a reported $2.7 million.
It is specifically targeting the “mainline sorter systems at Lehi on I-40 Eastbound and at Marion on I-55 Southbound.”
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ARDOT has said these entry points are responsible for some of the “highest truck volumes in the nation,” and it hopes the initiative will improve the inspection of commercial vehicles passing through, as well as overall safety.
What New Technologies Will Be Deployed?
The new system will involve:
- Weight-in-motion sensors, which are able to capture the weight of trucks as they move at highway speeds.
- A tire anomaly classification system, which can provide real-time detection of unsafe tire conditions
- License plate recognition, Department of Transportation checks, and Intelligence Roadside Operations Computers (iROC), all of which can identify and verify a vehicle’s credentials instantly
- Fully integrated dynamic message boards, which will be able to guide drivers who need further inspection
Neither Quarterhill or ARDOT have provided an exact date as to when the technology is expected to be deployed.
Tech Is Key to Addressing Increasing Freight Volume
Quarterhill emphasized how the new systems will help Arkansas “address increasing freight volume,” and will directly support “ARDOT’s broader mission to deliver safer, smarter, and more sustainable transportation infrastructure.”
“Partnering with Quarterhill allows us to bring cutting-edge tools to two of Arkansas’ most important freight gateways. These upgrades will strengthen enforcement, improve roadway safety, and keep goods moving efficiently across our state and beyond. This initiative is a win for our economy, drivers, and communities.”
– Jeff Holmes, Chief of Arkansas Highway Police
Similar systems could soon be deployed in other states where freight volume is climbing. In fact, in our Moving Goods With Fewer Hands logistics report, 63% of the logistics professionals we spoke to reported an increase in demand over the past year.
Similarly, as the trucking profession continues to be one of the most dangerous in the US, modernized systems powered by AI could improve safety and thus draw more individuals to the industry workforce, in the long run.
