A former trucker is leading his community in a campaign to keep a Werner Enterprises truck driving and truck repair school out of his town, according to local reports.
Proposed Facility Would Include 75 Truck Parking Spots
Werner has plans to build the 67,000 square foot facility in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. The facility would include 75 truck parking spaces as well as 169 trailer spots and 179 car parking spots. The school would accommodate around 50 students and would be expected to increase traffic by about 50 tractor trailers per day. A Werner spokesman said that aside from a small outdoor training course, most of the training would take place inside the facility.
Some Locals Unhappy With The Proposed Truck Driving School
Some residents are not happy about the increased truck traffic and the addition of a 60 foot tall building to the small farming community. One of Lehigh residents leading the charge against Werner is Eddie Calderone, who spent several years as a truck driver.
Calderone is one of about 200 people who have joined a Facebook page called “Concerns & Complaints Villages of Mill Race/Tatamy Hunt” which is intended to keep Werner out of their community. Caldrone says the noise pollution and increased traffic are some of the main reasons he wants to keep Werner away: “I was a truck driver for 14 years. I’m telling you, the sounds that will carry through the air and the traffic this’ll cause will only add to the horrible traffic on Tatamy Road.”
Part of a flier Calderone intends to distribute to neighbors elaborates on his reasons for opposing the school: “Traffic on Tatamy has already become a tragedy & the intersection at Tatamy & Newlins is a death trap. Now add an upwards of 50 tractor trailers to that & you’ll understand why we must come together to stop this. The building will be built at a height of 60 feet & will hinder our little farm like skyline as well as the added traffic & horrible noises that will creep through our homes as we sleep. Our property values will decrease as well as our quality of life.”
Werner CEO Says The Company Is Committed To Safety And Community
Werner CEO Derek Leathers issued a statement to address the community’s concern about the school: “You will find that all Werner associates, from executive management, to facility management, to our professional drivers, all have the same goals as you: to promote safety and build a strong sense of community. And if a concern is voiced by members of the community, you can be assured that Werner will do its best to remedy the situation. We look forward to being a part of Lehigh Valley.”
For now, Calderone is working to gather other residents to attend the next planning commission meeting to voice their opposition to Werner moving into the community.
Sources:
Lehigh Valley Live