WESTLAKE, Ohio — TravelCenters of America (TA), in conjunction with the National Association of Truck Stop Operators (NATSO) Foundation, has begun a new initiative to significantly enhance the safety of TA’s Emergency Roadside Assistance technicians who repair commercial vehicles along the Interstate Highway System.
All TA Truck Service Emergency Roadside Assistance (ERA) vehicles are now equipped with the HAAS Alert Safety Cloud digital alerting platform, a software that sends “slow down” and “move over” alerts to oncoming drivers when an ERA vehicle activates its flashing lights and is stopped alongside a roadway, according to a news release.
These digital alerts are sent directly to drivers using popular navigation apps like Waze and Apple Maps, and through the infotainment screens of 2018 and newer Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles.
“HAAS Alert’s real-time digital notifications provide a safer work environment for the thousands of team members who provide emergency roadside services to professional drivers in need of help,” said Debi Boffa, TA CEO. “Safety is our top priority, and we are extremely proud to drastically improve roadside working conditions and better protect both our team members and professional drivers.”
Cory Hohs, CEO of HAAS Alert, called his company’s collaboration with TA “is a vital step forward in our shared commitment to road safety. By offering Safety Cloud digital alerts, we can help more roadside service workers get home to their families every night.”
The NATSO Foundation in 2023 unveiled a strategic partnership with HAAS Alert to enhance safety for the industry’s roadside service technicians. Under this program, the NATSO Foundation aims to connect HAAS Alert with the nation’s vast network of truck stop and travel center locations.
“We are pleased that TA is implementing the software into its ERA vehicles,” said Lisa Mullings, NATSO foundation president. “By reminding drivers to comply with Move Over laws, we can significantly decrease risk, making highways safer for all.”
Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and raised in East Texas, John Worthen returned to his home state to attend college in 1998 and decided to make his life in The Natural State. Worthen is a 20-year veteran of the journalism industry and has covered just about every topic there is. He has a passion for writing and telling stories. He has worked as a beat reporter and bureau chief for a statewide newspaper and as managing editor of a regional newspaper in Arkansas. Additionally, Worthen has been a prolific freelance journalist for two decades, and has been published in several travel magazines and on travel websites.
