The purpose of this award to the north carolina (NC) department of public safety-NC state highway patrol are the upgrade asheville weigh station on i-40 WB; fixed heads-up real time distracted driving…

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration awarded the North Carolina Department of Public Safety $1,820,700 on December 1, 2025, under the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance High Priority Activities Grants and Cooperative Agreements program (CFDA 20.237) for three projects targeting commercial motor vehicle safety in North Carolina.

The first project installs e-screening technologies at the Asheville weigh station on Interstate 40 westbound. These systems will allow enforcement personnel to identify potential violators based on weight, safety, and credentials, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the state's CMV enforcement while reducing carriers' operational costs. The second project procures and deploys two heads-up real time distracted driving enforcement systems at the Hillsborough weigh station on Interstate 40 and Interstate 85 (both eastbound and westbound). The systems use artificial intelligence-enabled cameras designed to detect mobile phone and seat belt usage by CMV drivers in traffic, providing law enforcement with real-time data feeds of probable traffic offenses that can be integrated with active roadside enforcement and other e-screening tools already deployed at the weigh station. The third project funds attendance at conferences, workshops, and meetings related to innovative technology deployment and high-priority activities, enabling North Carolina to contribute to national and state-level transportation safety initiatives, enhance organizational knowledge in transportation safety and compliance, and stay informed on emerging trends and regulatory updates.

The award runs through September 30, 2030, with performance in North Carolina.

The purpose of this award to the north carolina (NC) department of public safety-NC state highway patrol are the upgrade asheville weigh station on i-40 WB; fixed heads-up real time distracted driving enforcement system; and the ITD related conference travel request projects. Project 1 objective: install e-screening technologies at the asheville WB weigh station. Upgrading the asheville weigh station will improve commercial motor vehicles (CMV) safety and enhance the productivity of cmvs and commercial drivers. This upgrade will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of NC?s enforcement efforts while reducing carriers? CMV operations costs. These technologies will allow enforcement members to identify potential violators according to weight, safety and credentials. Project 2 objective: procure and deploy two (2) heads-up real time distracted driving enforcement systems at the hillsborough weigh station on i-40/I85 (both eastbound and westbound stations). The cameras on the heads-up real time enforcement system utilize high-performance artificial intelligence that are designed to detect mobile phone and seat belt usage by CMV drivers while traveling in traffic. The system provides law enforcement with a real time data feed of probable traffic offenses that can be utilized in conjuncture with active roadside enforcement countermeasures. The system will be integrated with the other e-screening tools already installed at the weigh station monitoring CMV traffic. Project 3 objective: request funding to attend conferences, workshops and meetings related to HP-ITD issues. Will allow for NC to contribute more effectively to the national and state-level transportation safety initiatives while fostering collaboration with key stakeholders in the industry. Enhance the organization?s knowledge and capabilities in transportation safety, compliance and technology adoption. NC aims to stay informed on emerging trends, regulatory updates, and best practices that directly impact their work.