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Run both
- Message board upstream to warn of the closure and delays
- Arrow board on the shoulder at the start of the taper
- One arrow board per closed lane
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Arrow Board vs. Message Board
An arrow board tells drivers which way to merge. A message board tells them why, where and when. Pick by the job, and on a busy multi-lane closure, run both. Every trailer here is solar, with no generator to fuel.
Solar, no generatorPanels and batteries on every trailer
96 x 48 in arrow panels15 or 25 lamps, the MUTCD Type C size
4G and GPSRemote control and tracking on full-matrix signs
Start with the job
Based on MUTCD 11th Edition Sections 6L.05 and 6L.06. Your traffic control plan and the agency that owns the road have the final say.
Arrow board, caution mode
- Caution display only, no arrow
- Same for a one-lane closure on a two-lane, two-way road
- Never use an arrow for a lane shift
Message board
- Dates, times, detour routes and queue warnings
- Up before the work starts
- Two phases of up to three lines
Solar arrow and message board trailers
Arrow boards first, then message signs from smallest to largest. Prices as of September 2026.
Bigger cabinets and wider pixel pitch give bigger characters, which read farther at speed. For roads at 45 mph and up, ask us for the character height of the model before you order.
The static signs still go up
Neither device replaces the work zone signs. The MUTCD treats a message board as a supplement to conventional signs, and an arrow board works with signs and channelizing devices, not in place of them.
So the Road Work Ahead and lane closed signs, the cones and the barricades still go out, and the trailers do what a static sign cannot.
How far drivers can read each one
An arrow is a simple shape, so it reads from farther away than words do. That is why the two work as a pair.
1 mileMinimum legibility for a Type C arrow board, the type for high-speed, high-volume roads
1/2 mileHow far a portable message sign should be visible, day and night
8 secondsThe most a two-phase message may take to cycle, so keep each line to 8 characters
Source: MUTCD 11th Edition, Sections 6L.05 and 6L.06.
Questions we get
What is the difference between an arrow board and a message board?
An arrow board shows a flashing or sequential arrow, a double arrow or a caution display, and tells drivers which way to merge around a lane closure. A message board, or portable changeable message sign, shows text in up to two phases and tells drivers why: closures, detours, delays and dates.
When should an arrow board be used?
Arrow and chevron modes are only for lane closures on multi-lane roads. For shoulder work, or a one-lane closure on a two-lane, two-way road, the board shows caution mode only. The MUTCD does not allow an arrow board to show a lane shift.
Which arrow board is right for a freeway?
Type C, which the MUTCD describes for high-speed, high-volume traffic control. It must be at least 96 by 48 inches with at least 15 elements and be legible from 1 mile. All four of our trailer arrow boards have 96 by 48 inch panels with 15 or 25 lamps.
How much can a message board say?
Three lines of eight characters, or a full-matrix display, in no more than two phases. Each phase shows for at least 2 seconds, and both together for no more than 8.
Can a message board replace the work zone signs?
No. The MUTCD treats portable message signs as a supplement to conventional signs and pavement markings, not a substitute. The Road Work Ahead signs, lane closed signs and channelizing devices still go up.
Tell us the closure, we will match the device
Send the road's speed, the number of lanes and what is closed. We will tell you which arrow board or message sign fits, or whether the plan needs both.