Scorpion TMA Truck Features Explained

The Scorpion attenuator from TrafFix Devices is a non-blade design widely run on highway work zones. Here is how it deploys, what it protects, and where it fits.

The Scorpion is a truck-mounted attenuator made by TrafFix Devices. We sell and service these units for crews across North Texas. The Scorpion II carries a TL-3 rating, which covers the 50 mph and higher speeds most highway work demands.

How the Scorpion works

The attenuator mounts at the rear of a shadow truck that parks behind the crew. When a vehicle strikes it, the Scorpion absorbs the energy of the impact and controls how the errant vehicle decelerates. That protects both the driver who made the mistake and the workers ahead of the truck. It is a non-blade design, distinct from Blade-style attenuators that use crumpling blades to dissipate force.

Deployment and operation

• Deploys in about 20 seconds from stowed to working position
• Travels at highway speed with the attenuator stowed, up to around 50 mph
• Transfers between stowed and deployed in roughly 10 minutes of setup
• TL-3 rating verified by MASH 2016 crash testing, around a 62 mph test

Is the Scorpion MASH compliant?

The Scorpion II holds a TL-3 rating under MASH 2016 with an FHWA eligibility letter. Non-blade Scorpion models are used where their rating matches the posted work-zone speed.

Do you service Scorpion units you did not sell?

Yes. We repair and re-certify Scorpion attenuators regardless of where they were purchased.