Department of Transportation Meets to Discuss Truck Parking

By: ClassADrivers.com


Photo by Ivan Bandura on Unsplash

Ten years after the passage of “Jason’s Law” – legislation that demanded more funding go towards safe and legal truck parking – today’s truck drivers still struggle to find a place to rest after a long day’s drive.

There may be some hope for change, though. On Friday, September 30th, the Department of Transportation (DOT) held a meeting to discuss ways to advance the cause of safe parking for truck drivers. The meeting was held with the National Coalition of Truck Parking, a group of state, federal, and trucking industry leaders that all have a stake in the issue.

Where Can Change Come From?

It’s one thing to want more parking. It’s another thing to actually pay for it. According to the DOT, some of these critical funds may come from the most recent infrastructure law that was passed with a bipartisan effort.

The meeting will also discuss other funding avenues from both state and federal sources, including grants. The Biden Administration has touted that this meeting is another part of their Trucking Action Plan, which is focused on increasing the amount of truck drivers and making the profession a safer one.

The DOT also pledges to offer a new Truck Parking Handbook to assist individual states in planning, designing, and constructing new parking areas.

The Push for More Truck Parking

The effort to demand more truck driver parking has been a long and arduous one. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) and Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) have petitioned the DOT by offering the following facts:

  • 98% of truck driver struggle to find safe parking.
  • Delays in finding parking cost drivers up more than 56 minutes of paid driving time.
  • The loss in paid driving time estimates up to $5,500 per year – an average 12% pay cut.

The FMCSA also cites safety as a key concern. FMCSA Adminstrator Robin Hutcheson commented with the following:

“One of the leading causes of truck crashes is driver fatigue. It is clear that adequate rest for drivers is foundational for safe operations. We have heard loud and clear from drivers – they need more places to rest and they need to be safe and secure while doing so.”