By closely monitoring freight ingress at the state line, the appropriate state agencies can better enforce vehicle and freight laws and regulations, ensure proper truck registration, operation and permitting and enforce weight and size regulations. Ports of entry are state-checkpoint entrances where commercial motor vehicles receive credential and safety inspections. Illegally loaded or operated trucks have a negative impact on the condition of our transportation system and on the safety of the traveling public.
In 2008, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority announced a partnership effort and established a goal to develop multiple new port-of-entry facilities at key points on Oklahoma state lines. These state-of-the-art facilities establish a front line that is necessary to create a safer and more responsible freight transportation environment on the highway system. Five ports of entry have been completed to date. These include:
- I-35 in Kay County at the Kansas state line
- I-40 in Beckham County at the Texas state line
- I-40 in Sequoyah County at the Arkansas state line
- I-35 in Love County at the Texas state line
- US-69/75 in Bryan County at the Texas state line
Using innovation and technology, ODOT opened Oklahoma’s first Virtual Weigh Station in September 2021 on US-412 in Delaware County at the Arkansas state line. The second Virtual Weigh Station is due to open in early 2024 on US-69/75 in Bryan County at the Texas state line.
Oklahoma Freight Transportation Plan
ODOT has created a long-range planning document for Oklahoma’s freight and passenger rail systems, known as the Oklahoma Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan.
