Frequently Asked Questions
TMA Truck Basics
What is a TMA Truck?
A TMA, or truck mounted attenuator truck, is placed strategically in a highway work zone to protect workers from errant vehicles in oncoming traffic. This truck has an impact attenuator, or crash cushion, that absorbs the kinetic energy of the colliding vehicle.
What are other names for a TMA Truck?
In different areas throughout the countries, you may hear a TMA Truck referred to as Attenuator Truck, Crash Truck, Scorpion Truck, or Shadow Truck, along with many other names.
Are TMA trucks only used for roadway operations?
No. While TMA trucks can be used to protect your workers in many different types of operations, one area we’ve seen TMA trucks increasingly used in is traffic incident management. Emergency responders, including law enforcement, fire/EMS personnel, and tow truck operators, are often left dangerously working in direct exposure to passing traffic. With a TMA present, these workers can effectively and safely work on the operation at hand.
Why should I have a TMA Truck in my fleet?
The most important reason is to keep your work zone and workers safe. Each year in the US, a work zone crash occurs approximately every 5 minutes. It has become almost inevitable that a highway worker will experience at least one, if not more, crashes in their career.