Commerce Insurance begins turnpike sponsorship

The Commerce Insurance Co. of Webster said it has begun putting its logo on service patrol trucks that help stranded motorists on the Massachusetts Turnpike.

A Globe story in October noted that the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority was considering plans to eliminate the program as part of larger budget cuts but that the authority's executive director, Alan LeBovidge had decided to see whether any companies would be interested in a sponsorship arrangement for the truck fleet, which costs about $1 million a year to operate. Commerce stepped up, and the authority's board approved a deal. (To read that story, please click here.)

In its press release today, Commerce Insurance noted that it has agreed to pay the turnpike authority nearly $2. million dollars over five years.

Several patrol trucks began sporting the Commerce logo earlier this week, and the entire fleet will have Commerce decals by the end of the month, a Commerce spokeswoman said. The photo that appears with this post was provided by Commerce.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)