The trucking industry faces a chronic lack of safe parking, leading to safety risks, inefficiencies and workforce challenges. Legislation and initiatives are underway to address the issue through increased nationwide truck parking capacity, funding plans and project expansions in various states.
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A bill introduced in the House this winter would authorize $755 million in grant funding to expand truck parking capacity across the country.
The trucking industry is overjoyed congressional transportation committee members have recognized the safety needs of truckers.
Legislation was introduced this winter to authorize $755 million in grant funding to expand nationwide truck parking capacity. The Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act is much needed, said the American Trucking Association (ATA), among others.
"One of the most meaningful ways Congress can show its support for America's professional truck drivers," Chris Spear, ATA president said of the bill. "The chronic lack of truck parking poses an unacceptable risk to both truckers and the nation's motoring public."
Spear called on congress to provide a solution to the situation. He believes the legislation will increase supply chain efficiency and improve highway safety.
The ATA reports that for every 11 truck drivers on the road today, there is one truck parking space. The shortage of truck parking impacts supply chain efficiency, driver health and wellbeing, highway safety and the environment, said the association.
"Additionally, the lack of safe parking options is often cited as a deterrent to more women joining the industry," he said.
Nationwide Issue
Inadequate access to parking was second on the American Transportation Research Institute's (ATRI) 2024 list of critical issues in the trucking industry.
ATRI believes until Congress acts, "states will need to apply for parking capacity expansion resources through DOT infrastructure investment programs.
According to ATA, for every 11 truck drivers, one truck parking space is available nationwide. Truckers report they frequently waste an hour a day searching for a spot to park, said the association. Parking spot shortages lead truckers to park alongside the shoulder of the highway, on off-ramps or in residential areas.
This habit of parking where they are able is resulting in hazards for both truckers and other drivers, the industry said.
"They stop early. That affects supply chain issues," John Blair, president, Motor Transport Association of Connecticut, told the Middletown Press. "The truck parking shortage has plagued the trucking industry for decades. The consequences are as wide-ranging as they are severe."
The nationwide scarcity of parking spaces decreases safety for everyone and exacerbates longstanding trucking industry workforce challenges, added Blair. It also diminishes trucking productivity, and results in unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions, he said.
Over-the-road truckers are required to drive for nine hours. They take 10 hours to rest.
Industry officials said because of that parking areas must be made secure and comfortable for drivers. Like in other states, it's a critical issue in Connecticut.
"We've seen the trends of truck traffic continue to grow since 2020," Garrett Eucalitto, Connecticut transportation commissioner, told the Middletown Press.
"Now we have a lot more truck traffic than we did before the pandemic," he said, adding that people want things on demand.
"They order, and they want it delivered tomorrow ... the industry has shifted, so we just see trucks all the time," said Eucalitto.
When truck drivers are unable to find safe, authorized parking, they're stuck in a no-win situation, said the ATA. Truckers are forced to either park in unsafe or illegal locations, or to violate federal hours-of-service rules that regulate their daily drive-time.
ATA cites a U.S. Department of Transportation report that found 98 percent of drivers regularly experience problems finding safe parking. The truck parking shortage exists in every state and region and is most acute along major freight corridors, according to the report.
In fact, 70 percent of drivers have been forced to violate federal hours-of-service rules because of this common scenario, the association said. To ensure they can find a safe and legal space, truck drivers often park prior to exhausting available drive time," reported ATA.
"The time spent looking for available truck parking costs the average driver about $6,800 in direct lost compensation — or a 12 percent cut in annual pay."
USDOT has logged 55 deadly accidents involving trucks near off ramps every year.
The bipartisan infrastructure act supports the construction of roughly 2,000 new truck parking spaces, noted ATA
"But much more progress is needed to make a measurable difference for truck drivers," said the association. Members of Congress agreed.
The House Highways and Transit subcommittee had bipartisan support for the trucking industry in discussing the need for more parking nationwide.
"We must continue the safety investments we made in the IIJA," said Eleanor Holmes Norton committee member from Washington D.C.
The trucking industry called for more parking in the next surface transportation funding package, on the table for next year.
"I strongly urge you to include the truck parking language in the next highway reauthorization bill," said John Elliott of the Truckload Carriers Association.
Elliott noted that the bipartisan Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act has failed to advance through Congress.
It contains "must-have language" that should be incorporated into any upcoming highway policy bill, he said.
"The 2021 IIJA failed to allocate dedicated funding for truck parking initiatives," Elliott said. "This oversight must be corrected to ensure the safety and efficiency of our nation's trucking workforce."
The lack of available parking forces truckers to choose between a potentially safe location or driving while they feel fatigued or out of hours-of-service time.
"These factors are also negatively affecting the safety of the driving public," said Lewie Pugh of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.
Answer Is Rapidly Expanding Network
States and private industry are answering the call for more and safer parking facilities for truckers.
In the Chicago, Ill., area, the first phase of what was billed as the largest-capacity truck stop in the country opened last fall. The 30-acre site, off I-90 in West Dundee, allows truckers to stage their trailers efficiently, reported abc7chicago.com.
The goal was to have 1,000 semi-truck parking spaces, adding nearly 10 percent more spaces to the statewide total, reported Outpost, site manager. Drivers book spots in advance in the yard, which is expected to bring lots more trucks to the mostly industrial area.
At the end of 2024, Connecticut DOT announced a $31 million project to increase the state's public truck parking capacity by 44 percent. The project was to add 180 truck parking spaces over five key locations in the towns of Middletown, Madison, Southington, Southbury and Vernon.
According to cdllife.com, this project increases the state of Connecticut's public truck parking spaces to approximately 600. The project launched with the addition of 11 parking spaces at the Middletown rest area on northbound I-91.
The rest of the project will be completed in phases over the next several years, said cdllife.com.
"During the COVID-19 pandemic, we heard truckers loud and clear when they called for more places to safely park along state highways," said Eucalitto. "We are excited to begin these projects to improve safety for the trucking community, who keep our economy moving."
Blair of the state motor transport association applauded the project: "The effort here in Connecticut will undoubtedly make our roads safer."
Last fall, the DOT announced $4.2 billion in grant programs to fund 44 projects including three truck parking capacity expansions.
The expansions, in Ohio, Wisconsin and Nevada, are necessary to mitigate the hazards associated with the chronic lack of truck parking.
Ohio's portion, a $17.9 million grant, will reopen and repurpose two closed rest areas as truck parking facilities. One site is located along I-70 eastbound near New Paris, Ohio. It will provide 100 truck parking spaces.
The other project, on I-80 eastbound near Hubbard, Ohio, with feature 38 truck parking spaces.
In 2022, Ohio DOT found that over a one-year period, 654 trucks parked in undesignated locations within 8 mi. of the I-70 location.
The department survey also found that 487 trucks parked in undesignated locations within 2 mi. of the I-80 site.
The facility repurposing projects will incorporate video surveillance. And the parking areas will provide real-time parking information to drivers.
In Wisconsin, $12.5 million in grant funding will replace rest areas along I-43 in Manitowoc County. The project will replace both the Maribel and Denmark facilities, including a new rest area building, maintenance garage and parking for cars and trucks.
The capacity of truck parking would increase by a total of 72 stalls, according to ccjdigital.com.
Lighting will be replaced and ingress/egress roadways will be reconstructed to accommodate the parking spot additions.
Pavement at both facilities will be improved and a substandard beam guard will be removed, according to ccjdigital.com.
And in Nevada, a $275 million grant will widen I-80 between the Reno/Sparks metro area and Tahoe Reno Industrial Center. The project also will include the creation of 50 new truck parking spaces along the corridor. Improvements to I-80 include one additional lane in each direction, shoulder widening, bridge reconstruction and new pavement.
Site manager Outpost hopes to bring parking expansions to other sites across the country. The company is growing its network of 18 parking properties and 8,000 spaces.
"Truck parking is essential infrastructure for our supply chain and the U.S. economy — no different from roads and bridges," said Trent Cameron, CEO.
The infrastructure, he said, will evolve to include maintenance, electric vehicle charging, autonomous vehicle landing, office space and other services.
"The first step is building a nationwide network of outposts for truck parking, fleet positioning and drop trailer relays," added Cameron. CEG
Lucy Perry
Lucy Perry has 30 years of experience covering the U.S. construction industry. She has served as Editor of paving and lifting magazines, and has created content for many national and international construction trade publications. A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she has a Journalism degree from Louisiana State University, and is an avid fan of all LSU sports. She resides in Kansas City, Missouri, with her husband, who has turned her into a major fan of the NFL Kansas City Chiefs. When she's not chasing after Lucy, their dachshund, Lucy likes to create mixed-media art.
Read more from Lucy Perry here.
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