Residents demand to know why local Werner terminal wants to add 185 more truck parking spaces

Residents of a town in Pennsylvania are skeptical that their local Werner terminal actually needs more truck parking following a proposal that would increase their current truck parking by 50%. 

Werner Enterprises recently submitted a sketch plan to Palmer Township in Pennsylvania, outlining their proposal to add 138 trailer parking stalls and 47 tractor parking spaces to their truck terminal at  2215 Newlins Mill Road. The facility currently has 200 trailer parking stalls and 90 tractor parking spaces. 

The Palmer Township Planning Commission will take a close look at the sketch plan this week, which will allow the public to ask questions before an engineer draws up formal plans. Residents in the area opposed the initial plans to build the facility more than five years ago, but the plans were approved anyway. Now, the residents are skeptical that Werner actually needs the extra parking it is proposing. 

According to Lehigh Valley Live, questions from these residents include: Why does Werner need more parking? Will they expand operations? Have they done a traffic study? Are there any plans to expand the building site?

“I can hear all the beeps from the trucks now and to add more spaces would significantly increase the noise level,” said resident Karrie Ruch. 

The current Werner terminal opened in July of 2021 on 28 acres. Werner uses the facility to hold driver safety courses, and host its Career Track Program for new drivers. Werner drivers who stop at the terminal have access to showers, laundry, a company store, a gym, a lounge area and a full-service truck shop, and truck wash.