Utah Deploys AI-Based System to Inspect Tires, Issue Alerts
Sensors at Ports of Entry Flag Flat, Failing Tires
Key Takeaways:
- Utah transportation officials began using roadway sensors and artificial intelligence at truck inspection stations to spot flat and failing tires before commercial vehicles reach highways.
- The system at ports of entry aims to cut crash risk and speed inspections and flagged more than 20 flat tires first day at Echo.
- UDOT plans to expand to Daniels and Kanab and ultimately equip all eight state-operated ports while inspectors conduct hands-on checks when issues are flagged.
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Utah transportation officials and artificial intelligence at truck inspection stations to detect flat and failing tires before commercial vehicles reach the highway.
The technology, now operating at multiple Utah ports of entry, is designed to identify tire problems early and reduce the risk of crashes caused by sudden tire failures. Officials say the system also streamlines inspections by allowing officers to focus on vehicles that show signs of trouble rather than stopping every truck.
Known as an in-road tire anomaly detector, the system relies on sensors embedded directly in the concrete at ports of entry. As freight and transport trucks roll over the sensors, the equipment measures each tire and sends the data to screening software that generates a digital image. Artificial intelligence then analyzes the image, running it through a series of programmed checks to identify abnormalities such as flat, damaged or unevenly worn tires.
When the system flags a potential issue, a port of entry inspector conducts a hands-on inspection to determine the severity of the problem and what corrective action is needed before the truck continues its trip.
Although commercial drivers are required to perform daily pre-trip inspections, officials say tire conditions can change quickly once a vehicle is on the road, particularly for trucks hauling heavy loads across long distances.
“When a tire fails on the road, the consequences can be serious, both for truck drivers and for everyone sharing the highway,” said Cheyenne Enns, an agent at UDOT’s Echo Port of Entry. “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 at ports of entry routinely look for flat, threadbare or damaged tires, but thorough inspections of every wheel on large commercial vehicles can be challenging. Trucks can carry as few as six tires or as many as 42, making full inspections time-consuming and disruptive to freight movement.
(Utah Department of Transportation)
The automated detection system allows inspectors to quickly screen vehicles as they pass through the port, giving officers more time to focus on enforcement, safety checks and other responsibilities. The impact was evident when the system went live at the Echo Port of Entry, where inspectors identified more than 20 flat tires on the first day of operation.
“The dangers of tire failures can be anything from a minor inconvenience to something that can be deadly,” said Howard Trexler, senior business analyst for UDOT Motor Carriers. “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.”
The technology is in use at the Perry, Peerless, Wendover, Echo, St. George and Monticello ports of entry. UDOT plans to install the system next at the Daniels and Kanab ports, with a long-term goal of equipping all eight state-operated ports of entry with the detection technology.
Generative AI assisted in the creation of this article.
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