PA Turnpike Celebrates Truckers During 2026 National Truck Drivers Appreciation Week
PA Turnpike Celebrates Truckers During 2026 National Truck Drivers Appreciation Week
Events held with PMTA at service plazas across the PA Turnpike system
MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Turnpike
Commission (Commission) and the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association (PMTA)
partnered again this week to celebrate National Truck Driver Appreciation Week
(NTDAW).
This nationwide recognition event highlights the crucial role
professional truck drivers play in safely and securely delivering America’s
freight.
“The Pennsylvania Turnpike is proud to team up with PMTA to
celebrate the freight haulers and drivers who choose our roadway to keep goods
moving and our economy strong,” said PA Turnpike Commission COO Craig Shuey.
“This week serves as a small token of appreciation for the important work they
do every day. But showing our appreciation goes beyond this week. It means
continuing to enhance their experience and help them get home safely – by
providing them places to rest, reducing stop-and-go travel and giving drivers
the information they need to make safer decisions on the road. Those
investments we’re making today and will continue to prioritize as we build a
safer, more reliable roadway for the professional drivers who rely on us every
day.”
Events were held
this week at Allentown, Peter J. Camiel, Sideling Hill, Oakmont-Plum and Lawn Service Plazas
featuring giveaways and coupons for truck drivers, and opportunities for all
visitors to learn more about the commercial trucking industry and how to share
the road with these essential vehicles.
“Truck Driver Appreciation Week is an
opportunity to recognize the more than 90,000 professional truck drivers who
keep Pennsylvania moving every day,” said Rebecca Oyler, President and CEO of
the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association. “Their work is easy to take for
granted, but nearly everything we depend on—from food and medicine to the
materials that keep our businesses running—spends time on a truck. We
appreciate the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission for helping us thank these
drivers and for its continued partnership in supporting them on the road.”
Additionally, commercial customer services include:
· Digital message boards for emergency and weather condition communication
· Commercial resources, such as 511PA
· Round-the-clock driver assistance, including towing and road debris removal, via *11
· Service plazas with increased overnight parking spots, food
· On-system bathroom, fuel and food amenities with easy on/off ramps
· All-electronic tolling for cashless, non-stop travel
· A Toll Calculator for improved trip planning Toll Calculator | PA Turnpike
· Use a hands-free device, voice command, or have a passenger text “INFO” to 47676 for automated backlog updates, including expected clearance times and detour information when available
· The Road Ahead – Trucker Edition: Learn about current roadway projects, vital safety initiatives, and customer service improvements specifically for truck drivers
The PA Turnpike serves as one of the Northeast
region’s most important freight corridors, making commercial trucking a vital
part of daily operations across the system. According to the American Trucking
Association (ATA), truck drivers transport more than 11 billion tons of freight
each year — about 70% of all freight moved in the U.S.
The PA Turnpike Commission has invested more than $29 million over seven years to expand truck parking by more than 160 new spots at Sideling Hill, Lawn and Highspire service plazas. The Commission is also evaluating opportunities to add more than 600 spaces across the system. The PA Turnpike Commission has also been actively collaborating with partners like PMTA to improve travel experiences for commercial drivers, leveraging emerging technologies and seeking partnerships to better support both driver safety and logistics efficiency.
Additionally, commercial customer services include:
· Digital message boards for emergency and weather condition communication
· Commercial resources, such as 511PA
· Round-the-clock driver assistance, including towing and road debris removal, via *11
· Service plazas with increased overnight parking spots, food
· On-system bathroom, fuel and food amenities with easy on/off ramps
· All-electronic tolling for cashless, non-stop travel
· A Toll Calculator for improved trip planning Toll Calculator | PA Turnpike
· Use a hands-free device, voice command, or have a passenger text “INFO” to 47676 for automated backlog updates, including expected clearance times and detour information when available
· The Road Ahead – Trucker Edition: Learn about current roadway projects, vital safety initiatives, and customer service improvements specifically for truck drivers
A national transportation leader, the Pennsylvania Turnpike (PA Turnpike) is the second largest tolling facility in the United States with the most miles. The PA Turnpike proudly supports safety and convenience for its more than 550,000 daily customers through 24-7 roadside assistance, round-the-clock food and fuel at 17 service plazas and a dedicated maintenance force and State Police Troop. The PA Turnpike’s approximately 1,400-person local workforce is unified in its mission; to operate a safe, reliable, customer-valued toll road system that supports national mobility and commerce. For more information about the PA Turnpike’s mission, vision and values, please visit Home | PA Turnpike.
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Media Contacts:
Marissa Orbanek, Press Secretary: 267-408-5151, morbanek@paturnpike.com
Crispin Havener, Assistant Press Secretary: 717-870-2841, chavener@paturnpike.comLegal Disclaimer:
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