How Do I Know If My Transponder Is Broken?
With tolling technology becoming more advanced, we’ve become accustomed to having reliable transponders to support our time on the road. When we hit a bump in the road and a transponder is giving us trouble, how do you know if it is truly broken?
No matter which transponder you have, E-ZPass, TxTag, Sunpass, or one of Bestpass’ universal toll transponders, all malfunction in similar ways. When you hit a toll, the light will flash red at the gantry, some may show messaging that tells you to contact the tolling authority.
If you’re not on the road, you won’t see these signs. Hopefully, your drivers will give you a call about the errors, but with traffic and timelines to worry about, that call isn’t always made.
This means you will only know when you start to get bill in the mail for violations. If you don’t have Bestpass, you might not know about these violations for months. By then, it will be difficult to find out which transponders are malfunctioning or broken and thousands of dollars of violations will be coming your way.
Is My Transponder Broken or Just Malfunctioning?
Some malfunctions can be fixed in minutes. To troubleshoot and identify the problem, consider the following possibilities:
1. Make sure your transponder is properly mounted and displayed.
One easy adjustment you can make is to make sure your transponder is mounted properly without obstructions. This can be simple as lowering your device to the bottom of your windshield, below a hood, or moving to the right or left of a split screen. Make sure that there is nothing blocking or covering your transponder or plates that could hinder your transponder from being properly read. Depending on the type of transponder you’re using, make sure that it placed in the correct area of the vehicle. An external transponder won’t be of much use if it is accidentally mounted on the interior of the vehicle.
2. Check your transponder for damage and wear.
Your transponder may malfunction if it is broken or damaged. Ensure that your transponder does not have any cracks, holes, or wear and tear. Transponders are durable, but they are not eternal. It’s important to include transponders when your drivers or mechanics are doing general maintenance on the vehicles.
3. Make sure your transponder subscription is active.
If your transponder requires a subscription or service plan, check whether it's active and up-to-date. An expired subscription can cause the transponder to stop working. You may have missed the email or physical letter about your canceled account. It’s important to know how much your subscriptions cost and make sure that they’re being paid on time.
4. Was your transponder correctly installed?
If the transponder was recently installed or moved, there might have been an error during the installation process. If your transponder is from us at Bestpass, you should have received detailed instructions for your transponder. If you have purchased multiple transponders for different vehicles, each device is separately packaged and clearly labeled. If the transponder was installed incorrectly or in the wrong vehicle, that could cause toll violations. If you are unsure that your transponders were installed correctly and are assigned to the correct vehicles, please contact your friendly Bestpass customer service representative!
5. Make sure drivers are following speed and gantry signs.
This issue is not as common as the top four, but it is still an option. Toll lanes and gantries will clearly display which lanes drivers should be in and what speed limit they should be traveling at. Many gantries can read transponder information while vehicles are traveling up to 80 miles per hour, but some drivers can speed past without knowing that their transponder was not properly read. Follow up with your drivers to ensure they have the training and information to successfully avoid toll violations.
Malfunctions like the ones mentioned above are the most common reasons. Don’t waste time and money on transponder fees before you make sure that you’ve crossed the most common issues off your list.
Click here to see the full list of transponder malfunctions and how to fix them!
If your transponder is broken or has passed its life span, then you will need a new one!
My Broken Transponder Cost Me Thousands In Fees. Help!
We’ve got your back, whether you’re a current customer or not! If you’ve been a part of Team Bestpass, our goal is to help you take care of violations, sort out your fees, and help you track down what transponders or trucks are causing you violations.
If you’re not a customer yet, but are having trouble keeping track of your toll metrics and expenditures, we are the top tolling team! As soon as you get signed up with us, we can begin evaluating your business and save you time, money, and headaches. We have connections and partnerships with the Department of transportation of every tolling state in the USA and we use our strings to get your violations taken care of at decreased rates. And the best part: YOU don’t have to call anyone but us to ensure that your violations are taken care of!
