UDOT

Utah port of entries use sensors and AI to detect early-on issues 

The Utah Department of Transportation’s port of entries are using new technology to spot tire problems on freight and transport trucks before they lead to dangerous failures on Utah highways.

This technology, called an in-road tire anomaly detector, uses embedded sensors paired with screening software. As trucks roll over the sensors at a port of entry, the system measures each tire and sends that data to connected programs that create a digital image of the tire. The software then runs that image through a series of programmed tests, supported by artificial intelligence, to identify any abnormalities. 

If the system flags an irregularity, a port of entry inspector performs a hands-on inspection to determine the severity of the issue and how it should be mitigated. 

While commercial drivers are required to make daily pre-trip checks, tire conditions can change instantly. 

“When a tire fails on the road, the consequences can be serious, both for truck drivers and for everyone sharing the highway,” UDOT Echo Port of Entry Agent Cheyenne Enns said. “This technology helps us catch problems early before a truck ever leaves the port. It’s another way we’re preventing crashes, protecting drivers, and keeping Utah’s roads safer for everyone.”

Inspectors are constantly watching for flat, threadbare or damaged tires, but stopping every vehicle to manually inspect as many as six to 42 tires on a double-belly truck isn’t always feasible. The anomaly system speeds up the process and gives inspectors valuable time back to focus on other responsibilities.

The first day the system went live at the Echo Port of Entry, it identified more than 20 flat tires.

“The dangers of tire failures can be anything from a minor inconvenience to something that can be deadly,” UDOT Motor Carriers Senior Business Analyst Howard Trexler said. “Beyond the potential for the loss of life, tire failures can result in damaged roads, increased taxpayer dollars spent on litter cleanup or maintenance, and they disrupt our truckers’ important routes. This new system is improving mobility, health and economy for everyone in Utah.”

The technology is currently in use at the Perry, Peerless, Wendover, Echo, St. George and Monticello ports of entry. Installations are planned for the Daniels and Kanab ports next, with the long-term goal of equipping all eight UDOT-operated ports with the system.