Orange Trucks Out, White Trucks in at Connecticut DOT

NEWINGTON, CT — The Connecticut Department of Transportation is about to overhaul its fleet of trucks and the colors will turn from the familiar orange to white along the Interstate-84 and 91 corridors.

DOT officials announced late last month that the department will begin a transition from its traditional orange to all-white trucks and other maintenance vehicles – a move that will maintain safety and visibility, save money that can be spent on other critical equipment needs, and speed the delivery of new vehicles, according to DOT officials.

The transition began with an order of 46 plow trucks and pick-ups that was submitted last month, and the public will begin seeing the new white trucks by this summer, DOT officials said.

A number of other states, including Ohio, California and neighboring Rhode Island, have converted their DOT fleets to white, officials said.

In addition to winter snow operations, CTDOT trucks are used for road and highway maintenance, and to protect other trucks and workers in work zones year-round across Connecticut with traffic control devices that create a safer traffic pattern.

“The change from ‘Omaha Orange’ to white trucks is a smart decision for us,” said CT DOT Commissioner James P. Redeker. “Like the current fleet, the new trucks will retain the high-visibility red and yellow reflective striping across the back of the truck and an array of flashing and other safety lighting equipment that exceed all federal safety requirements. This equipment helps ensure the overall safety of CT DOT operations for our workers as well as the motoring public."

Redeker added, “The orange color we have been using for many years is a specialty color that not only is more expensive but adds time to delivering an order for new vehicles.”

A typical CT DOT plow truck costs $195,000 and four-wheel-drive pick-up trucks are about $30,000, officials said. The change to white vehicles is expected to save $600 per truck, officials said.

The projected savings for the upcoming "procurement" is $27,600 for 46 vehicles, according to DOT data.

Photo Credit: CT DOT