The American Trucking Association (ATA) recently gathered with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) in South Dakota to recognize progress being made in the national shortage of truck parking.
USDOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg highlighted 11 parking spots dedicated for commercial vehicles as part of a transportation reconstruction project along Interstate 90. Throughout the Biden administration, the department has increased funding to trucking and freight.
“We have stepped up our work on the truck parking coalition and our efforts to encourage states and other decision-makers to make better use of infrastructure dollars to expand parking,” said Buttigieg, noting a USDOT partnership with stakeholders.
South Dakota was awarded a $61.1 million grant to improve its freight corridor, including expansions to truck parking accommodations. Additionally, transportation agencies in Louisiana, Florida and Tennessee were recently awarded federal grants for truck parking facilities.
Also at the event, Buttigieg announced the availability of more than $80 million in grants for highway safety programs, including parking projects.
“Know that you will continue to have a partner in the U.S. Department of Transportation. And I’m really glad that we’re able to be here to celebrate projects like this one, expanding truck parking nationwide,” Buttigieg said.
ATA President Chris Spear said, “This event is really a fine example of our industry coming together and government officials actually hearing the issues that our drivers face each and every day: spending nearly an hour looking for parking, losing nearly $5,000 a year in wages spent looking for a place to rest.”
“It’s not only that they need that rest. They have to take it. They’re required by law. And if we’re going to require them to do it, then we need to provide the space for them to park,” said Spear. “We also want to celebrate the fact that the [Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act] provides monies that will not only provide secured truck parking but well-lit truck parking.”
Dan Van Alstine, ATA chairman and president and chief operating officer of Ruan Transportation Management Systems, pointed out that the truck parking shortage is a critical safety issue.
In July, NACS Daily reported on a company looking to abandoned drive-in movie theaters for truck parking opportunities.