TruckPark PA wins Rep. Chrissy Houlahan’s 2023 Congressional App Challenge in Pennsylvania’s Sixth District

When asked what inspired the creation of TruckPark PA, the student said, “Although the trucking industry plays an invaluable role in keeping our nation’s economy up and moving, trucking is especially important for businesses throughout the state of Pennsylvania. The first time I ventured through Pennsylvania, I remember feeling like the state seemed to have more trucks on the road than I had ever seen before. Upon moving into the area, I was even more astonished to find that highways such as the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I-76, and I-95 seemed to lack parking facilities for these trucks despite their abundance. Even though Pennsylvania nears the top of the list when it comes to the prevalence of trucking, it is not uncommon to find long stretches of road in various parts of the state where truck parking facilities are scarce or entirely absent. As a result, oftentimes truck drivers choose to park on the shoulder or in small townships, which can be both disruptive to the surrounding community and dangerous for passing drivers.

On the other hand, it felt necessary to address during the brainstorming process that truck drivers are not machines. They are humans and should be expected to operate like humans. However, due to tight driving schedules and unrealistic expectations, drivers often must prioritize their work at the expense of their physical and mental health. Given that driver health is overlooked and relatively understudied, I felt inspired to create an app that could solve the parking and health problem together through one cohesive solution. In it, I believe that we can spark positive change and bring attention to the challenges that truck drivers face on a regular basis.”