PA Turnpike, Trucking Community Share Strong Safety Commitment
Safety drives the trucking industry, just as it drives everything we do at the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.
From deploying digital road condition updates to steadily improving customer amenities, we are committed to innovation that safely increases reliability, efficiency and value for the approximately 35 million commercial vehicles traveling our system annually.
Safety firsts
Last month, we launched a new text messaging, the latest in a series of industry-leading initiatives targeted at the trucking community. This new text messaging service, available exclusively to PA Turnpike customers, provides real-time, automated communication about unexpected traffic backlogs.
The service isn’t for use during construction or congestion scenarios, and it is essential to comply with all laws prohibiting texting and driving. Instead, when vehicles are at a complete stop due to a major incident, text INFO to 47676. Information and expected clearance times will be relayed every 15 minutes until the situation is resolved.
Dedicated Truck Lanes in construction zones may seem routine, but they’re critical to improving safety. Moving to typically wider left lanes enhances traffic flow while protecting drains beneath the roadway from heavier vehicles.
When drivers are ready to pull off the road, the PA Turnpike proactively shares truck parking information along the system. Advertised on changeable message boards near nine service plazas between 5 p.m. and 2 a.m. daily, it provides real-time data on available parking at the approaching service plazas, making sure drivers know when safe parking is available. All service plazas have easy on/off ramps and offer bathrooms, fuel and food amenities.
Finally, the Turnpike’s automated traffic management software is integrated with wayfinding apps like 511PA, Google Maps and Waze and digital resources such as Drivewyze’s Smart Roadway and INRIX for real-time slowdown, congestion and traffic incident alerts; Trimble Maps includes our truck parking feed.
Building improvements
Truck parking is a top industry issue, and the PA Turnpike actively collaborates on solutions with regulatory and commercial partners.
In the last seven years, we expanded truck parking at three service plazas – Sideling Hill, Lawn and Highspire – adding more than 160 new spots.
As a nearly 85-year-old roadway, we rely on construction projects to preserve America's first superhighway and prepare for future travel needs. Regular resurfacing keeps roads smooth; guardrail and barrier upgrades enhance vehicle containment and reduce crash severity. Bridge replacement and total reconstruction – rebuilding and expanding the roadway – improve overall safety and system mobility.
In January, we upgraded to Open Road Tolling east of Reading and along the entire Northeast Extension. This cashless, free-flowing mode of electronic toll collection charges customers as they drive at highway speed beneath overhead structures — called gantries — located between interchanges.
Fewer obstructions mean less congestion entering or exiting our system, or along feeder roads, which can cause additional crashes due to stop-and-go traffic. This also lessens potential collisions at tollbooths caused by anxious decision-making or sudden swerves to change lanes.
Education and appreciation
Truckers are among our most frequent customers, and we routinely seek opportunities to celebrate their contributions to the nation’s economy and educate the public on safety.
Our service plazas hosted Trucker Appreciation Week events with the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association in September and “We Appreciate You Every Day” events in April.
Truckers also benefit from two initiatives that reinforce the concept that all drivers are responsible for maintaining awareness behind the wheel.
Go Orange, honoring fallen PA Turnpike workers, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. During 2025, we’ll recognize safety advancements and inspire continued commitment to protecting lives in work zones. You can “Go Orange. Take the Pledge to Drive Safe.” by visiting idriveorange.com.
The second, October’s National Slow Down, Move Over Day, highlights Pennsylvania’s law requiring reduced speeds or moves to adjacent lanes when encountering stalled vehicles, tow trucks and law enforcement.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike is prioritizing opportunities that strengthen relationships with freight haulers and drivers. By maximizing trucker productivity and welfare, we’re honoring our commitment to providing a safe, reliable and efficient roadway that supports national commerce.
Captions:
PA Turnpike advertises truck parking availability on changeable message boards near nine service plazas between 5 p.m. and 2 a.m. daily. The PA Turnpike’s added more than 160 new parking spots in the last seven years, and all service plazas have easy on/off ramps, bathrooms, fuel and food amenities.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission last month released a next test messaging service to provide updates during unexpected backlogs. When vehicles are at a complete stop, text INFO to 47676. Information and expected clearance times will be relayed every 15 minutes until the situation is resolved.