The Trucking Industry’s Growing Headache: Finding Parking

Parking lots that can accommodate commercial freight trucks are in short supply around the country. The lack of truck parking can decrease productivity and increase fuel usage because a lack of parking forces drivers to waste time and burn fuel as they seek legitimate parking. HOS violations can result in hefty fines, sometimes reaching thousands of dollars. The problem also can lead to unsafe situations for trucks and other motorists on the road – along with personal safety concerns for female professional truck drivers who are unable to find parking in legitimate, well-lit parking areas.

“Female drivers face heightened dangers, often attracting unwanted attention,” says Tara O’Banion, Account Executive with Camargo Insurance, which offers specialized commercial trucking insurance. “They have to be constantly alert, carry self-defense tools, and keep doors locked. The risks are significantly higher when they can’t find a spot at a truck stop.”

Progress on Parking Solutions: Infrastructure Funding

Over $30 million was recently awarded to construct 260 new truck parking spaces, according to U.S. Department ofTransportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. He says these will make it easier for truck drivers to locate parking along keyfreight corridors in Ohio, Wisconsin and Nevada.

“The chronic lack of truck parking poses a danger to the public, impedes the efficiency of our supply chain and harms truckers’ well-being,” according to Buttigieg. Congress is being asked to build on this investment and vote to pass the $200 million for truck parking included in this year’s appropriations bill. This funding stems from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and was allocated through the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) Program.

Combined with previous awards to California Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming, the announcement brings the total number of truck parking projects supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to 14, encompassing roughly 2,000 additional spaces.

The INFRA funding was awarded as follows:

Ohio: A $17,897,842 grant will repurpose two closed rest areas as new truck parking facilities. One facility on I-70 near New Paris will create 100 spaces, and the other on I-80 near Hubbard will create 38 spaces. Over a one-year period, over 1,000 trucks were forced to park in undesignated spots within a few miles of these locations. The project will entail video surveillance, and the parking areas will be added to the Truck Parking Information Management System, providing real-time parking information to drivers.

Wisconsin: A $12,500,000 grant will replace both the Rest Area 51 Maribel and Rest Area 52 Denmark facilities along I-43 in Manitowoc County, which will increase truck parking capacity by 72 spaces. The project will also improve lighting and access for trucks as well as provide real-time parking information.

Nevada: As part of an I-80 widening project in the Reno-Sparks area, Nevada DOT will add 50 new truck parking spaces. In addition, the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act—which was recently introduced by Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming) and Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) and Representatives Mike Bost (R-Illinois) and Angie Craig (D-Minnesota)—which would create a $755 million federal grant program dedicated to truck parking expansion.

More Solutions Coming From the Private Sector

Because the current infrastructure supporting the trucking industry remains insufficient to address the shortage of temporary truck parking, many new private companies are emerging to meet the need.

Truck Park Management (TPM) recently announced a nationwide rollout of its operations. Headquartered in Little Rock, AK, the company aims to solve the urgent issues faced by truck drivers and fleet owners by offering a reservation-based, secure parking platform across the United States, according to Danny Loe, CEO.

A key component of TPM’s innovative approach is the Trucklots software and app, a dedicated technology platform designed exclusively for real-time parking reservations by drivers and fleets as well as lot management capabilities for parking lot operators. This user-friendly app and its complete integration offering streamlines the process of finding secure, reservable parking, ensuring ease of access and convenience for its users from the point of booking to checking in and out from the reserved stay. Alongside Trucklots, TPM offers a full suite of services, including reservation-enabled overnight parking, long-term parking, and parking lot management.

Another solution is Truck Parking Club, a network of instantly reservable hourly, daily, weekly and monthly truck parking locations throughout the United States comprised of property owners with locations adequate for truck parking. Evan Shelley, Co-founder, says the company is providing parking options by monetizing vacant properties for landowners.

“The lack of truck parking impacts our customers every single day,” says Evan Shelley, Co-Founder and CEO of Truck Parking Club. “We have 24/7 customer service and frequently get calls at night with drivers needing a place to park at the very last minute, oftentimes in areas they aren’t always familiar with. Whether it’s a place to park for a night, or a place to drop a trailer or leave their truck for a few days, our customers are frequently left scrambling looking for solutions that aren’t easy to find.”

TRUX Parking is another solution that offers its members with the benefits of a\ nation-wide network of truck parking lots. The company is working toward having a presence in every major industrial hub across the country so its members can park at a TRUX lot along every route. While the network effects will take time, according to COO and Co-founder Joey Goodman, the company is in a rapid purchase and build mode. He notes that top-quality truck lots have such features as security cameras, high fences, industrial lighting, 24/7 gate access, WiFi access, and online payments.

Part of the solution is to continuously educate legislators, the general population, and the industry at-large about the importance of resolving this issue – and the Wnbaz (WIT) is doing its part. Discussions focused on the problem and potential solutions continue to be facilitated at its annual Accelerate! Conference & Expo and in the members-only Engage discussion platform. Redefining the Road magazine continues to publish its ongoing series of articles on the issue and potential solutions. In addition, soon you can download a free Truck Parking Solutions Guide at WomenInTrucking.org.

A version of this article will be featured in Edition 3 of 2024 in our official magazine, Redefining The Road. Soon it will be available to download here.

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