Trucks move more than 500 million tons of freight annually on Tennessee roads and highways, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, with I-40 serving as one of the busiest routes for truck traffic in the United States.
With such high traffic, the State of Tennessee recently became the latest to offer “sudden slowdown” and “congestion ahead” alerts to commercial truck drivers on their ELDs, tablets and smartphones via the Drivewyze by Fleetworthy Smart Roadways program, which is available to drivers free of charge through Drivewyze Free. Tennessee was among five states last year to join eight others that already offer the service.
Drivewyze nearly doubled the size of that program in 2024.
The service experienced dramatic growth throughout the year, with the number of monthly alerts increasing by 151% and the average number of unique trucks receiving alerts growing by 96% compared to the previous year. And it has made an impact on road safety.
“Using real-time data on slowdowns and congestion to alert commercial drivers means accidents can be prevented,” said Ahmed Darrat, chief product officer at INRIX. “Our partnership through the Smart Roadways program is making a difference, and since the alerts are available to all drivers, free of charge, it’s something no driver should be without. That was magnified in the Cleveland State study where fleets said, ‘In-cab alerts are effective tools for improving driver behavior and safety performance; alert systems have significantly reduced at-fault crashes. And a comprehensive, uniform alert system across all states is needed to provide consistent and timely information.’”
Accident prevention has never been more important given the rising costs of claims. Drivewyze partners with INRIX and state transportation and enforcement agencies to offer these alerts to drivers.
INRIX identifies and monitors traffic slowdowns using advanced algorithms that analyze millions of anonymous connected vehicles traveling more than a billion miles daily in the U.S. The information then goes to Drivewyze and its Smart Roadways platform. Smart Roadways is a next-generation V2N solution for state transportation agencies that requires no roadside infrastructure investment, unlike traditional Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) deployments.
“What makes this program particularly attractive to state agencies is the ability to immediately improve commercial vehicle safety without investing in new infrastructure,” said Drivewyze Vice President of Government Experience Brian Mofford. “States can activate these life-saving alerts across their entire road network almost immediately, reaching thousands of trucks through our existing connected truck network.”
Secondary crashes involving trucks in Ohio were reduced by 29% over a two-year period when alerts were given to drivers, according to the “Determination of Effectiveness of Commercial Vehicle Safety Alerts” study by Cleveland State. The Purdue University study, “Quantifying the Impact of In-Cab Alerts on Truck Speed Reductions in Ohio,” found that approximately 22% of drivers receiving sudden slowdown alerts reduced their speed by at least 5 miles per hour 30 seconds after receiving the alert.
“The alerts work,” Mofford said. “And that’s driving momentum with states adopting the service.”
The alerts, which are displayed two to three miles before the slowdown begins, are more effective than drivers looking for brake lights closer to the site.
Josh Brown, director of traffic operations for the Tennessee Department of Transportation, said Tennessee has 2,800 miles of roadways covered under the Smart Roadways program for that reason. In addition to alerts from Tennessee and other participating states, drivers with the Drivewyze Free app receive Drivewyze-sponsored alerts and advisories for high-rollover risk areas, low bridges and mountains (steep grade ahead, chain-up/brake check stations, and runaway ramps).
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Tennessee is also using the Smart Roadways virtual sign messaging service, enabling the DOT to message drivers with custom alerts at specific geo-fenced locations. Messages can alert drivers of detours and notify them of an upcoming work zone.
“Our goal is to reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries linked to congested roadway conditions,” Brown said. “These ‘heads-up’ alerts will give drivers time to slow down when there is sudden congestion.”
