In 2026, ITS collaboration with Caltrans continues to reshape how California moves freight and people. Quarterhill announced three new project awards totaling about $2.4 million from Caltrans, aimed at powering commercial vehicle screening and weighed-in-motion (WIM) data collection across key freight corridors. This is more than a press release; it’s a practical upgrade to the state’s digital highway backbone.
ITS Collaboration with Caltrans on California Freight Tech
California operates one of the largest and most complex freight networks in North America. The combination of ITS and Caltrans leadership means safer, smarter highways. Quarterhill will deliver data and screening solutions designed to identify high-risk vehicles, streamline compliant truck movement, and support smarter infrastructure planning across California’s transportation network. ITS isn’t just buzzwords here; it’s the backbone of smarter enforcement and planning, with Caltrans guiding the map with a steady, practical hand.
Working with Caltrans, Quarterhill will support three projects designed to strengthen California’s commercial vehicle monitoring and data infrastructure:
- First project expands weigh-in-motion (WIM) data collection across key freight corridors, enabling real-time checks and longitudinal trend data. ITS sensors feed CHP dashboards so officers can focus inspections where they matter—and where data shows a need for attention.
- Second project automates data fusion for screening, flags potential violations, while keeping compliant trucks moving on busy corridors. Caltrans and ITS share a vision of safer roads without needless delays.
- Third project builds a robust data backbone for transportation planning, ensuring agencies can access accurate, timely data to shape freight mobility programs across California. ITS algorithms translate raw data into actionable insights for road builders and policymakers.
Caltrans partnership drives smarter highways
California moves more than 2.4 billion tons of freight annually across a vast highway network spanning more than 50,000 miles. These projects will lift the accuracy and availability of commercial vehicle data used to support transportation planning, freight mobility programs, and infrastructure monitoring. The systems will enable more targeted enforcement by the California Highway Patrol while letting compliant trucks pass more smoothly through key corridors. This partnership—Caltrans with ITS technology and Quarterhill as the tech backbone—embodies how modern mobility should work: safer, faster, data-informed, and less frustrating for drivers.
ITS-powered data backbone for planning and enforcement
Quarterhill positions itself as a global ITS leader in the industry, advancing mobility through smart infrastructure that reduces congestion, improves roadway safety, and creates more sustainable travel. ITS platforms process billions of transactions, perform safety inspections across millions of commercial vehicles, and empower agencies worldwide to optimize lanes of traffic. With AI and ML, ITS delivers automation and predictive insight that help agencies manage transportation networks more efficiently. By working with governments, communities, and industry leaders, ITS is shaping today’s connected roadways while paving the way for the next generation of resilient mobility. Caltrans serves as the practical counterpart, turning digital capabilities into real-world road improvements.
What does this mean for the everyday driver? For freight operators? For city planners? It means better data, faster decisions, and fewer bottlenecks on days when the weather tests patience. ITS data feeds into smarter planning models, guiding investments where they deliver the biggest safety and efficiency gains. Caltrans benefits from standardized data and clearer dashboards that translate into clearer priorities. The result is a transportation network that not only handles heavy freight but also supports daily commuting with fewer delays and more reliable travel times. ITS and Caltrans together are turning complexity into clarity on California’s busy corridors.
Forward-looking statements may appear in corporate materials, but in practice this collaboration aims for concrete outcomes: improved vehicle screening, better data availability, and faster responses to incidents. The momentum signals growing demand for scalable, repeatable ITS solutions that can be deployed across other states and regions. ITS and Caltrans have shown how consistent collaboration, sensible data practices, and responsible tech deployment can transform a sprawling network into a smarter, safer one. This is not magic; it’s method, backed by data and delivered by teams that know California’s highways inside and out.
Source: Quarterhill Inc. Original press release on PR Newswire. We thank the original source for sharing their material with the public, which helped shape this article.
External sources
- Caltrans – California Department of Transportation
- USDOT ITS Program
- NHTSA – Commercial Vehicle Safety
References
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