International Road Dynamics
Corporate brand
UnclaimedInternational Road Dynamics is a Canadian transportation-technology company that develops road traffic management, weigh-in-motion, tolling, commercial-vehicle inspection, and traffic-data systems.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
International Road Dynamics Inc. (IRD) is a Canadian road-traffic management and intelligent transportation systems engineering company headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Its technology is used to measure, classify, monitor, and manage vehicles on highways and at inspection, tolling, and traffic-control facilities. The company is particularly associated with weigh-in-motion systems, which determine vehicle and axle weights while a vehicle is travelling over instrumented roadway sensors rather than stopping on a static scale. IRD was established by transportation engineer Dr. Art Bergan in the late 1970s. Its initial product was a weigh-in-motion scale, and the company subsequently expanded from measurement hardware into integrated commercial vehicle operations and roadway-management systems. Its systems can record individual axle weights, axle-group weights, gross vehicle weight, vehicle speed, and classification information based on characteristics such as axle spacing. These capabilities allow transportation authorities to identify potentially overweight vehicles before they reach a conventional inspection area. By directing only selected vehicles to a weigh station, the systems can reduce queues, improve traffic flow, and make enforcement operations more targeted. Fleet operators can also use the technology to check that vehicles leave terminals within permitted weight limits. By the mid-1990s, IRD had become an established participant in the international commercial vehicle operations market. In 1995, it installed what the reference material describes as the world's first dynamic truck speed-warning system for the Colorado Department of Transportation. The installation, located on the freeway west of the Eisenhower Tunnel, combined vehicle sensors and an automatic scale with an algorithm that estimated a truck's maximum safe speed for the descent into a canyon. The recommended speed was communicated to drivers through a variable-message sign and flashing lights. This project illustrated IRD's broader approach: combining roadway sensing, analytics, and driver or operator communications rather than treating weighing as an isolated function. The company also developed an international presence through subsidiaries, acquisitions, and joint ventures. IRD South Asia Private Ltd. was established in 2000 as a wholly owned subsidiary focused on toll-collection systems in India. Its offerings included manual, smart-card, and transponder-based tolling, together with weigh-in-motion technology intended to help concessionaires limit road damage and toll-revenue losses. The subsidiary also undertook data-collection work in cooperation with India's National Highways Authority. In 2003, IRD acquired Germany-based PAT Traffic. By 2009, the combined IRD-PAT business had installed 10,000 bending-plate weigh-in-motion systems, according to the cited reference material. In China, IRD acquired a 50 percent interest in Xuzhou-PAT Control Technologies Limited in 2007. The company had distributed IRD products in China since 2003, and the joint venture supported toll-road systems, traffic monitoring, and maintenance services. These activities broadened IRD's scope from equipment supply to longer-term operational and support relationships. Quarterhill, an Ottawa-based patent-licensing and technology company formerly known as WiLAN, acquired IRD in 2017 for C$63.5 million. IRD continued to operate as a transportation-technology subsidiary within the Quarterhill group. In 2020, Rish Malhotra became President and Chief Executive Officer as part of a planned leadership succession. In 2021, IRD acquired all interests in German companies Sensor Line GmbH and VDS GmbH and established IRD Europe GmbH to integrate the European acquisitions and expand its regional business. Today, IRD's portfolio spans automated toll roads, commercial-vehicle inspection, weigh-in-motion, traffic-data collection, traffic monitoring, and traffic-management software, with its historical expertise in vehicle measurement remaining central to the brand.
History
International Road Dynamics originated in Saskatchewan in the late 1970s, when transportation engineer Dr. Art Bergan established the company around weigh-in-motion technology. Its first product was a system capable of weighing vehicles as they moved over roadway sensors. This approach addressed a practical problem in highway enforcement: static weighing requires trucks to stop, while in-motion measurement can screen traffic continuously and identify vehicles that warrant further inspection. The company developed its systems to measure individual axles, axle groups, and total vehicle weight, while also classifying vehicles through data such as axle spacing and speed. These capabilities supported commercial vehicle operations by allowing authorities to sort vehicles before they entered inspection stations. The resulting reduction in unnecessary stops could shorten queues and improve highway throughput. The same data could be used by fleet operators to monitor outbound loads and reduce the risk of vehicles exceeding permitted weight limits. During the 1990s, IRD expanded beyond basic weighing into integrated roadway safety and commercial-vehicle systems. In 1995, it installed a dynamic truck speed-warning system for the Colorado Department of Transportation on the freeway west of the Eisenhower Tunnel. The system used sensors and an automatic scale to estimate a truck's maximum safe speed for a steep descent into a canyon. The calculated warning was shown to drivers using a variable-message sign and flashing lights. The project demonstrated how IRD could connect measurement, software-based analysis, and roadside communication. IRD pursued international growth through subsidiaries and corporate transactions. It created IRD South Asia Private Ltd. in 2000 as a wholly owned Indian subsidiary specializing in toll collection. Its systems included manual tolling, smart cards, and transponders, supplemented by weigh-in-motion technology designed to help concessionaires manage road wear and reduce revenue leakage. The subsidiary also provided data-collection services in cooperation with India's National Highways Authority. In 2003, IRD acquired PAT Traffic in Germany. The resulting IRD-PAT business had installed 10,000 bending-plate weigh-in-motion systems by 2009, according to the cited reference. The company also built a Chinese presence. IRD products had been distributed in China through Xuzhou-PAT Control Technologies Limited since 2003. In 2007, IRD acquired a 50 percent interest in that intelligent transportation systems company. The joint venture supported toll-road systems, traffic monitoring, and maintenance, giving IRD a structure for local distribution and project support. A major ownership change occurred in 2017, when WiLAN acquired IRD for C$63.5 million. WiLAN was subsequently renamed Quarterhill, and IRD became a subsidiary of the Ottawa-based technology and patent-licensing group. The transaction placed IRD within a broader corporate portfolio while preserving its focus on transportation systems. Leadership succession followed in 2020, when Rish Malhotra was appointed President and CEO. In 2021, IRD acquired 100 percent of German companies Sensor Line GmbH and VDS GmbH. It subsequently created IRD Europe GmbH to integrate three European acquisitions and build its European business. Across these stages, the company moved from a specialist weigh-in-motion supplier toward a broader intelligent transportation systems provider covering tolling, commercial-vehicle inspection, traffic data, monitoring, and traffic-management software.
- 2021
German acquisitions integrated through IRD Europe
[1]IRD acquired Sensor Line GmbH and VDS GmbH and established IRD Europe GmbH to integrate its European acquisitions.
- 2020
Rish Malhotra appointed President and CEO
[1]The appointment formed part of a planned leadership succession process.
- 2017
Acquired by WiLAN
[1]WiLAN acquired IRD for C$63.5 million; WiLAN was later renamed Quarterhill.
- 2007
Chinese intelligent transportation joint venture expanded
[1]IRD acquired a 50 percent interest in Xuzhou-PAT Control Technologies Limited in China.
- 2003
PAT Traffic acquired
[1]IRD acquired Germany-based PAT Traffic, strengthening its European weigh-in-motion capabilities.
- 2000
IRD South Asia established
[1]The wholly owned Indian subsidiary was established to specialize in toll collection, related vehicle measurement, and data-collection services.
- 1995
Dynamic truck speed-warning system installed in Colorado
[1]IRD installed a system for the Colorado Department of Transportation that combined vehicle sensors, an automatic scale, speed-risk analysis, and roadside warning displays.
Company established in Saskatchewan
[1]Dr. Art Bergan established International Road Dynamics in the late 1970s. The company's first product was a weigh-in-motion scale.
Products and positioning
A specialized intelligent transportation systems provider focused on combining roadway sensors, vehicle-weight measurement, traffic analytics, tolling, and operational software to improve highway safety, enforcement efficiency, infrastructure protection, and traffic flow.
Vehicle measurement and classification
Weigh-in-motion systems
IRD's core technology weighs vehicles while they travel over instrumented roadway sensors. Systems can capture individual axle weights, axle-group weights, gross vehicle weight, speed, and vehicle-classification information. At inspection facilities, the data can be used to screen traffic and direct only potentially overweight vehicles to static inspection, reducing delays and improving enforcement efficiency. Fleet operators can also use the systems to verify outbound loads.
Weigh-in-motion hardware
IRD-PAT bending-plate scales
The IRD-PAT product family represents the company's bending-plate weigh-in-motion technology developed through its relationship with PAT Traffic. The systems are designed for highway and commercial-vehicle applications and form part of IRD's long-running portfolio of roadway measurement and classification equipment.
Commercial vehicle inspection
Commercial vehicle operations systems
IRD supplies systems for commercial vehicle inspection and operations management. These combine vehicle sensing, weighing, classification, and data handling to help transportation agencies identify vehicles requiring inspection, manage inspection-station throughput, and support compliance with weight rules.
Road tolling
Toll collection systems
Through its South Asian operations and other international activities, IRD has provided manual tolling, smart-card, and transponder-based systems. These offerings can be combined with vehicle measurement and data services to support toll-road operators, protect roadway assets, and improve the administration of concession facilities.
Intelligent transportation software
Traffic data and management software
IRD's software and data products support traffic monitoring, vehicle classification, toll-road operations, inspection workflows, and broader traffic management. The company's systems connect roadside sensors with analytics and operational interfaces so that authorities and operators can make decisions using live or recorded roadway information.
Brand decisions
2021
European expansion through Sensor Line and VDS acquisitionsM&ABackground
IRD sought to integrate its European activities and expand its regional transportation-technology business.
Action taken
IRD acquired 100 percent of Sensor Line GmbH and VDS GmbH and established IRD Europe GmbH.
Aftermath
The new European structure was intended to integrate three European acquisitions and support growth in the region.
2017
Quarterhill acquires International Road DynamicsM&ABackground
IRD was acquired by WiLAN, an Ottawa-based technology and patent-licensing company that was subsequently renamed Quarterhill.
Action taken
Quarterhill purchased IRD for C$63.5 million and retained it as a transportation-technology subsidiary.
Aftermath
IRD continued operating within the Quarterhill group with its focus on intelligent transportation systems.
Acquisition price. C$63.5 million (2017)
Recent events
Reported
IRD launches AI-enabled CVSA decal reader[2]
International Road Dynamics announced the launch of a CVSA decal reader system using artificial intelligence and machine vision technology.
Reported
IRD launches smart-city analytics platform[3]
International Road Dynamics announced the launch of a web-based analytics platform for Icoms Detections traffic sensors, with support for data from multiple sensor models.
Reported
IRD appoints Rish Malhotra as president and CEO[4]
International Road Dynamics announced that Randy Hanson retired as president and CEO and that COO and Executive VP Rish Malhotra succeeded him, effective immediately.
Sources4 sources
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