How can customers check if a mountain pass is open before leaving my store?

At a gas station, truck stop or highway cafe near a mountain route, people may want to know what is happening up the road. They might ask whether the pass is closed, whether there is a crash or how long roadwork will delay them.

A staff member may not have the latest answer. A TV showing reports from the state DOT gives customers a way to check what has been reported before they leave.

Put highway reports where customers can see them

MileCheck Corridor Board is a web page that runs full screen on a TV inside your store. It is built around the highway outside your location.

The screen shows reported closures, crashes and roadwork. If the DOT provides a delay estimate, the board includes it. Planned closures appear with the dates in the DOT report. Customers can also view live DOT cameras on the board.

For someone heading toward a pass, a reported closure is important to see before getting back in the vehicle. Camera views may also help them understand what a section of the highway looks like at the camera location.

A store might place the TV near a coffee counter, dining area or exit. It gives customers a common screen to check instead of asking an employee to look up every report.

Can the screen tell someone the pass is open?

Not with certainty. The board displays reports from the state DOT. It does not issue an independent open-or-closed ruling, and it is not an official DOT display.

The absence of a closure report is not proof that a pass is open or that driving conditions are safe. Reports and camera views can be limited or delayed. A camera covers only the area it faces. The board also covers its selected highway, not every alternate route a driver might take.

Drivers should use the state DOT's current travel resources as another check and follow posted restrictions and closures. They should not treat the store's TV as permission to continue driving.

What does the store have to do?

The store needs Wi-Fi and a TV or streaming device with a browser. Open milecheckapp.com/tv and enter the four-digit store code. That opens the board full screen.

You can add your own short store messages, such as "Soup special today" or "Showers available." One sponsor slot sits along the bottom. MileCheck finds and handles the sponsor, and the store receives a share of sponsor payments.

The board costs the store nothing. You get a 24-hour test before deciding whether to sign the board agreement. That agreement includes the store's share.

Boards currently exist for I-84 in Oregon, I-17 in Arizona, and I-90 and I-5 in Washington. Not every pass or highway has a board yet, so coverage matters.

If your customers frequently ask about a pass or the highway ahead, you can see whether a Corridor Board is available for your store.

Related: How to check road conditions before a trip · Live highway cameras