TransGuide uses technology to monitor traffic conditions, control traffic signals, and respond quickly to accidents and emergencies. The Houston area has a similar partnership in the TranStar system. Similar efforts are underway in other areas of Texas. Since the U.S. Department of Transportation has made the application of ITS a nationwide goal, even more Texas cities could see ITS in the years to come. Trucking regulation involves a host of issues such as state and federal taxes, safety regulations, interstate and international laws, credentials and certification requirements, and a variety of permits.
Many states use permanent weigh stations or ports of entry to regulate trucking.
Truckers know that when they reach those stations, they will be required to pull off the road and can plan accordingly. Troopers periodically staff Texas' weigh stations with permanent scales, use semi-portable scales at stations that do not have their own scales, or patrol highways with portable scales that can be used on the roadside. More troopers and weigh stations are planned, but these additional resources do not match national trends toward more automated truck weight enforcement. If the vehicle has the necessary electronic documentation, it is allowed to bypass weigh stations. Trucks without the technology, or with incomplete documentation, are still required to pull off at weigh stations.