Paid Truck Parking

October 20, 2024

Truck Parking: What do we see in the future?
By: Kate Yankovska | AVANTI PR

The trucking industry is crucial to the U.S. economy, transporting over 73 percent of the nation’s goods by value and more than 67 percent by weight.¹With the expected increase in e-commerce and truck traffic, the demand for truck parking will continue to exceed the supply of both public and private facilities, worsening the existing parking issues in many areas. Providing commercial truck drivers with safe, secure, and accessible parking is crucial.

“I know that truck parking is an issue that most Americans probably don’t think about daily—but it’s [a] vitally important one…
And that’s because it’s a life and death issue.” - U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

This problem can be noticed even by ordinary citizens who have nothing to do with the transportation industry, as they increasingly notice trucks parked in inappropriate places, such as on the roadside, at a rest area, or in a public place. Drivers need sufficient parking to comply with hours of service regulations. When there aren’t enough spaces, fatigued truckers may keep driving because they can’t find a place to rest. A study by the American Transportation Research Institute found drivers, on average, sacrifice 56 minutes of drive time every day to secure parking, amounting to a $5,600 annual pay cut. This can result in dangerous situations where drivers park in unsafe spots like road shoulders, exit ramps, or vacant lots. Such practices increase the risk of accidents and lead to higher maintenance costs due to damage on roadways not designed for heavy vehicles.

According to a 2019 Jason’s Law Survey, there are only 313,000 truck parking spots in the continental United States for over 1.94 million for-hire trucks. It’s no surprise that 98% of truck drivers have difficulty finding parking.²Over the next decade, trucks will be tasked with moving 2.4 billion more tons of freight than they do today. That means more trucks and more drivers to meet consumer demand, requiring even more parking spaces.

A lack of adequate rest areas leads to driver fatigue, which plays a significant role in causing accidents. Tired truck drivers are more likely to make mistakes, react more slowly, and face a heightened risk of accidents, putting everyone on the road in danger. With demanding schedules and strict delivery deadlines, truckers often push themselves to the point of exhaustion. Accidents caused by fatigued drivers can have severe consequences for other road users, including motorists and pedestrians. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, fatigue contributes to 30 to 40% of semi-trucks accidents.

Nowadays, there are apps and websites that can make finding a parking space much easier for a driver. These apps have many convenient features, such as: finding a spot close to your location, booking a spot for a specific time, quick and convenient online payment, and adding a new parking spot every day. ⁴

Drivers who avoid paying for parking need to realize that investment in private truck parking is crucial. Landowners have no incentive to provide truck parking without profitability, perpetuating the industry’s parking shortage. To address this ongoing issue, a collaborative effort to expand both public and private parking facilities is necessary to ensure safety and efficiency in the trucking industry.²

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) welcomed five new federal investments by the Department of Transportation to add approximately 1,000 truck parking spaces and improve parking along key freight corridors in Florida, Missouri, Pennsylvania, California, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin.

In January 2024 ATA President Chris Spear stated, “Drivers deserve to find a safe place to sleep after their shift. These investments will reduce supply chain bottlenecks, alleviate driver stress, and enhance roadway safety.”

These projects, combined with previous awards, will add roughly 2,000 additional spaces. The funding includes:

$180 million for 917 spaces on I-4 in Florida

$93 million for I-70 improvements in Missouri

$41 million for a truck parking area at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Pennsylvania

$12 million for an I-5 truck parking information system in California, Oregon, and Washington

$8 million to add 54 spaces on I-90 in Wisconsin with real-time information technology ³

As a result, the existing truck parking crisis is a significant oversight that demands prompt action. It is concerning that such an essential industry, which underpins our economy, struggles with fundamental infrastructure issues. Investing in truck parking isn't merely about convenience; it is a crucial safety measure that can prevent accidents and enhance the quality of life for truck drivers. Ignoring this issue jeopardizes not only road safety but also the efficiency of our entire supply chain.

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