November 2025: Trucker Edition
New Truck-Parking Options Coming Soon in PA
When you’re nearing the end of the day’s haul, it may be easier to find a place to stop in the Keystone State. The Pennsylvania Turnpike and PennDOT are planning to expand truck-parking options statewide.
Shorter Commute, Less Idling in Store with Major Breezewood Project
A long-awaited direct connection between the PA Turnpike and Interstate 70 at Breezewood is in the works, bypassing a congested stretch and three red lights in Breezewood.
Stuck in an Unexpected Backlog? New Service Keeps You Informed
While backlogs are rare on the PA Turnpike and we work hard to prevent them, when they do happen, customers have a new service to tell them what’s going on.
PA Turnpike, PennDOT, expand truck-parking options
The Pennsylvania Turnpike, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association, and several transportation partners announced last month that they are expanding parking for truck drivers statewide.
This is the first statewide expansion of designated parking spaces other than through facility construction projects and will provide safe options for commercial drivers to meet federal hours-of-service rest requirements, helping to address a longstanding, nationwide challenge and improving driver safety.
Mike Carroll and Mark Compton photo: PennDOT Secretary and PA Turnpike Commission Chair and PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton announced a statewide expansion of truck parking.
Truck parking is a nationwide issue, and with the high volume of freight traffic coming through Pennsylvania, the (PA Gov. Josh) Shapiro Administration knew that we needed to tackle this problem,” PennDOT Secretary and PA Turnpike Commission Chair Mike Carroll said. “As a commercial driver’s license holder myself, I know how important this commonsense approach is to our economy and workforce. By adding these spots – and looking at ways to add even more – we’re giving truckers many more options to safely park and meet their rest requirements.”
As part of the PA Turnpike’s ongoing investment in the trucking community, Compton announced a feasibility study of additional spaces at various locations throughout its system, including emergency pull-offs, interchange on-ramps and service plaza on-ramps.
Over the last two decades, the PA Turnpike has added parking where it can, investing more than $30 million to expand truck parking at numerous service plazas, including Sideling Hill, Lawn, Highspire, North Somerset, and New Stanton service plazas.
"The trucking community is essential to our mission of supporting national commerce,” Compton said. “We are dedicated to finding innovative solutions that address the increasing truck parking shortages along our system, and we take pride in collaborating with partners throughout the Commonwealth to enhance driver safety and improve logistics efficiency."
PMTA President Rebecca Oyler speaks at a recent press conference announcing the expansion of truck parking.
PMTA President and CEO Rebecca Oyler added, “Today is an important step forward and we are grateful for this leadership. The public and private sectors working together proves we can make real progress. Additional parking for truckers is not just a safety issue but economic and quality of life issues as well.”
As it converts to Open Road Tolling, the PA Turnpike is reviewing the reconfiguration of interchanges can create opportunities to provide additional spaces for truck parking.
Due to its role supporting regional logistical operations, the PA Turnpike is one of the few toll roads that held – and grew – its commercial volumes from pre-pandemic levels. Systemwide, commercial traffic is 15% higher than pre-pandemic levels.
To complement the added spaces statewide and to share available their locations, PennDOT unveiled a new Public Truck Parking option on 511PA.com and the 511PA app. The map displays existing truck parking options and both agencies’ newly designated locations will be added as the parking becomes available.
Find out more here.
You can also watch a video of the press conference here.
New Connection to Shorten Commute, Idling Planned at Breezewood
A long-awaited project to bypass one of the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s most congested interchanges is moving forward to give truck drivers a faster, safer, and more efficient haul between America’s First Superhighway and Interstate 70.
The new Breezewood Project will:
- Create a direct connection between the PA Turnpike and Interstate 70 bypassing Breezewood.
- Be a smoother and safer commute.
- Reduce idling and save time.
Right now, to connect to Interstate 70 from the Breezewood Interchange, drivers must exit the PA Turnpike, navigate through a quarter-mile of backups on U.S. Route 30, and sit through three red lights at one of the only spots in the country where an interstate meets a signalized intersection.
“It’s almost unheard of to end an interstate at a traffic light,” said PA Turnpike Breezewood Project Manager Mohammad Mohammad. “It’s a bit of a unicorn.”
PA Turnpike Project Manager Mohammad Mohammad is leading America’s First Superhighway’s efforts in the Breezewood Project.
Breezewood was part of the original 162 miles stretch of America’s First Superhighway that opened 85 years ago, and it became a major connection point when I-70 was completed in 1964. But what once fueled Breezewood’s economy with diners, motels, and gas stations has now turned into a choke point with increasing congestion. Even during off-peak hours, drivers can face 20 to 30 minutes of stop-and-go traffic just to transition between I-70 and the PA Turnpike.
The new Breezewood Interchange Project will change that, and Mohammad is eager to take on the challenge. He explained plans call for a direct, high-speed connection between I-70 and the PA Turnpike – made possible by Open Road Tolling -- eliminating the need to exit onto Route 30. The project will also widen the PA Turnpike from four lanes to six between mileposts 160 and 163.
For truckers, that means no idling, less wear and tear, and less diesel burned.
“It’s a smoother transition,” Mohammad said. “For truckers, time is money, and idling is money, too.”
The new connection is also intended to help the community of Breezewood reinvent itself, he added. A direct connection with I-70 will keep long distance travelers and commercial traffic on the interstate system while supporting safe, less congested access to local communities. Freed from heavy traffic, the town can turn its eye toward a new beginning, possibly focusing on outdoor recreation and tourism with attractions like the Sideling Hill Trailhead, as well as camping, fishing, and hiking opportunities.
The project is still in the early stages. The PA Turnpike hired a lead engineering firm earlier this year, setting the stage for the preliminary design phase. Construction is still a decade away.
Mohammad said he’s proud to be leading a project that will boost commerce, safety, and efficiency for drivers statewide.
“I’m excited about it,” he said. “It’s important not just for truckers and the region’s economy, but for the Turnpike’s future itself.”
New Service Keeps Truckers Updated on Unexpected Backlogs
Occasionally, traffic backlogs happen, and Mike Pack knows just how frustrating that can be.
That’s why Pack, who is the PA Turnpike’s Manager of Incident Management and Traffic Operations, and his team launched a new service earlier this year that is unique to the PA Turnpike and will give truckers vital information when they are in an unexpected backlog.
It’s called 47676, and since its launch in March, Pack is thrilled that about 8,500 drivers have used the service.
Here’s how it works: While at a complete stop in a location where it’s safe to remain stationary, customers can use a hands-free device with voice command or ask a passenger to text “Info” to 47676. Users will be walked through some prompts to verify their location and will receive automated updates about what happened and how long it will take to clear the incident every 15 to 20 minutes. Texts stop after the incident clears.
The 47676 service runs through the PA Turnpike Traffic Operations Center’s Advanced Traffic Management System, or ATMS, drawing from the same data feed that sends traffic information to 511PA, Waze, Google, and all the other traffic and GPS services.
While there are many ways to get information, 47676 is unique, Pack said, because, “If you’re stuck in a backlog, you can get specific texts sent to your phone. It’s more personalized.”
It's all part of the PA Turnpike’s Culture of Innovation. Back in 2022, Pack and his team pitched the idea to the PA Turnpike Innovation Council during their Shark Tank event. Like the television show of the same name, it’s a fun way to encourage inventions and innovations from within the ranks of the PA Turnpike.
And what was once a spark of an idea and a pitch to a panel of “sharks” has become a reality for customers, and for this and other advancements in transportation, Pack was recently recognized as the Intelligent Transportation Society Pennsylvania’s Person of the Year.
Though it launched a few months back, 47676 is still evolving. One customer recently reported that traffic was not moving an inch, but 47676 showed no incident. That’s because the customer was stuck in the residual delays often found after a backlog, Pack said. He and his team got to work on an update, and in the next few months, 47676 users will receive a message indicating, “incident has cleared, expect delays as traffic returns to normal conditions” in those situations.
It's a great service that came from within and that Pack would like to see continue to grow.
“I think it’s great for our customers, and I’m happy they’re using it,” Pack said. “It speaks volumes about our culture of the Turnpike. We want to hear new ideas and be leaders in the industry, and the Turnpike will support our projects going forward.”
Open Road Tolling: The Safer, Smarter Route for Fleets
Open Road Tolling (ORT) is a fully electronic, cashless system that went live in the eastern part of the PA Turnpike in January and is coming to the rest of America’s First Superhighway in January 2027.
A recent article in Automotive Fleet highlighted this ORT technology that reduces congestion, creates a smoother transition between the PA Turnpike and other highways, and reduces idling, among many other benefits.
You can read all about it here.
Top 10 achievements in 2025: PMTA
With 2025 being a busy and successful year, our friends at the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association shared their Top 10 list of achievements for the year:
1. Truck Parking Expansion:
Secured commitments for 1,800 new truck parking spaces along PennDOT and Pennsylvania Turnpike corridors — marking the first coordinated statewide expansion in decades. Collaborated with lawmakers to introduce HB 709, the nation’s first bill offering tax credits to private businesses that provide free truck parking.
2. Lawsuit Abuse Reform Initiative:
Established the Lawsuit Abuse Reform Subcommittee to educate members and lead advocacy efforts for judicial and legislative reforms that protect Pennsylvania carriers from predatory litigation.
3. National Recognition for Safety Excellence:
Earned the Magna Cum Laude distinction at ATA’s Safety, Security, and Human Resources National Conference, recognizing PMTA’s outstanding safety programming and industry leadership.
4. Call on Washington Advocacy Impact:
Elevated trucking’s priorities in both Washington, D.C. and across Pennsylvania through a congressional terminal visit, five legislative events, and meetings with representatives from 17 congressional offices during PMTA’s annual Call on Washington.
5. TruckPAC Growth and Engagement:
Hosted a successful TruckPAC fundraiser featuring Governor Tom Ridge, strengthening PMTA’s advocacy network and expanding grassroots political engagement statewide.
6. Strategic Staffing and Communications Expansion:
Welcomed two key hires — a Director of Safety and Education and a Director of Communications — to lead a revitalized safety program and communications strategy, enhancing engagement to support continued membership growth.
7. Wreaths Across America Innovation Award:
Honored with the 2024 Wreaths Across America State Trucking Association Innovation Award for creative fundraising and exceptional chapter engagement in honoring veterans.
8. “Safety Sensitive” Newsletter Launch:
Introduced a biweekly safety newsletter delivering timely updates on compliance, training, and best practices — keeping members informed, engaged, and proactive about safety.
9. National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (NTDAW):
Hosted 11 total events across the state in partnership with the PA Turnpike, PennDOT, and Sheetz, recognizing hundreds of professional drivers during Spring and Fall Truck Driver Appreciation celebrations.
10. Federal and State Emission Policy Wins:
Achieved a major federal victory on CARB emissions policy and championed SB 1348 in Pennsylvania, the nation’s first bill providing grants to carriers retiring older trucks for newer, cleaner models — a step toward sensible, achievable emission standards.
PA Turnpike and PMTA Show Appreciation for Truckers
The PA Turnpike took some time in September during Trucker Appreciation Week to say “thank you” to those customers who play a crucial role in safely and securely delivering America’s freight.
The Trucker Appreciation Events were sponsored by the PA Turnpike, the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association, and 7-Eleven.
Representatives from the PA Turnpike and PMTA were on hand at several service plazas to welcome, say “thank you,” and speak with truckers. The event took place Sept. 16 at the Allentown Service Plaza, on Sept. 17 at South Somerset, and Sept. 19 19 at the Sideling Hill, all with refreshments and small giveaways to show our appreciation.
Here's a look at the events:
