Idaho’s Ports of Entry operate quietly along the state’s highways, but the scale of their work is anything but small. With nine permanent POE stations equipped with Weigh-in-Motion technology, ten satellite ports staffed part and full-time, and more than 500 mobile ports, the system forms one of the most comprehensive commercial vehicle safety networks in the region.
What those numbers don’t show is the people behind them.
Every day, POE officers step into the elements before sunrise, often long before the first wave of trucks reaches the state line. They are the ones greeting drivers, answering questions, easing concerns, and keeping freight moving even when the weather, the workload, or the unexpected tries to slow things down. Their work is steady, patient, and deeply rooted in service.
Traffic through these locations reflects Idaho’s role as a freight corridor. The Boise port, the busiest in the state, sees roughly 5,000 trucks per day. Other permanent ports typically process 2,500 to 3,500 trucks daily, keeping a steady flow of commercial traffic moving safely and efficiently. For the officers on duty, that means long stretches of focused attention, quick decision-making, and constant communication with drivers who depend on them to keep the process smooth.
Why does that traffic matter? Trucks carry 94.5% of Idaho’s manufactured tonnage, moving more than 65,000 tons of goods every day. From agricultural products to advanced materials, nearly everything Idaho makes depends on the freight network that begins at the Ports of Entry. And every load that moves safely forward does so because a POE officer took the time to check, verify, and guide it in the right direction.
Behind the scenes, a team of 76 POE workers keeps that system running. In 2025 alone, they:
- Weighed 898,724 trucks
- Issued 70,826 travel permits
- Used High-Speed Electronic Weigh-in-Motion technology to screen 4,781,669 trucks
Those numbers represent long shifts, thousands of conversations, and countless moments where an officer’s judgment kept a small issue from becoming a big problem.
The result is a statewide operation that blends human expertise with advanced screening tools to support safety, commerce, and the daily movement of goods that Idaho communities rely on. It’s a system built on technology, but it succeeds because of the people who show up every day with professionalism, patience, and pride in the work they do.
Thanks to Ashley Fulmer for giving us a fantastic tour of the East Boise Port of Entry!