In an attempt to keep up with the growth of truck traffic across Pennsylvania, the state will add 1,202 truck-only parking spaces in 133 locations by the end of 2026, including four along Interstate 78 in Lehigh and Northampton counties.
At a news conference Monday along Interstate 83 in York County, PennDOT, state police, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association representatives announced the first statewide expansion of designated parking spaces other than through facility construction projects.
Truck parking has been a growing concern in the СŷƵ and across the state. СŷƵ, in collaboration with Lehighvalleylive.com, examined the issue in a story — “The hidden struggle of truck drivers feeding warehouse boom” — published by both news organizations in April.
PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said the growth of warehousing and other industries in the state has brought demand for additional truck parking.
“Truck parking is a nationwide issue, and with the high volume of freight traffic coming through Pennsylvania, the Shapiro administration knew that we needed to tackle this problem,” PennDOT Secretary 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.”
PennDOT’s designated truck parking spots will be established on interstate on-ramps with no sight distance or safety concerns, weigh stations used for state police motor carrier safety enforcement, and other locations within highway right of way. Spots will be marked with truck-parking signage installed by PennDOT.
The СŷƵ’s locations along I-78 include:
- The westbound ramp to Route 863 (exit 45) in Weisenberg Township. It will have five spaces.
- The eastbound ramp to Route 412 (exit 67) in Bethlehem. It will have five spaces.
- The eastbound ramp to Morgan Hill Road (exit 75) in Williams Township. It will have five spaces.
- The westbound ramp to Morgan Hill Road will have three spaces.
About 22,000 trucks travel through the СŷƵ on I-78 daily, according to numbers from the СŷƵ Transportation Study and PennDOT.
Currently, truckers stopping in the Valley after using up their legally mandated work hours can either find spaces at truck stops in Weisenberg and Upper Macungie townships and the Allentown Service Plaza along the turnpike’s Northeast Extension, or illegally park on the shoulder of on- and off-ramps.
Rebecca Oyler, president and CEO of the PMTA, said there is only one parking space for every 11 truckers on the road.
“Too many truckers are forced to choose between breaking hours-of-service laws or stopping in unsafe locations,” Oyler said. “Every new space added to our highway network means one more trucker who has a safe and secure place to stop tonight.”
The PTC said that it is evaluating adding more than 600 spaces at turnpike service plazas.
