Insufficient truck parking and need for assistance in upkeep: States call for aid in managing truck stops
The federal government is being urged to take decisive action to address the pressing issue of truck parking, with minimum standards for quantities and rest area quality being proposed. This call to action comes amidst years of pressure from the trucking industry and the prioritisation of the matter by the Trump administration.
The National Multimodal Freight Network, suggested by the agency, is seen as a key facilitator for the construction, operation, and maintenance of truck parking facilities. AASHTO, the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials, believes that flexible formula funding is the best solution for addressing the national truck parking problem.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is seeking to update its National Freight Strategic Plan (NFSP), and has committed over $275 million in grants to expand truck parking capacity nationwide. This funding, aimed at states with acute shortages, supports new construction and expansion of parking facilities. The House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee has also approved an additional $200 million in fiscal 2025 to expand truck parking along key freight corridors.
The DOT formally recognises truck parking under Jason’s Law (2012), which increases the ability to unlock new grant programs and resources nationally. This emphasis supports removing regulatory barriers and prioritising parking expansion in federal programs. Federal preemption clarifications, such as consistent meal and rest break laws, reduce conflicting state regulations that complicate trucker operations and parking compliance.
By focusing federal grant programs explicitly on truck parking and treating it as a critical safety and logistics issue, the federal government encourages states to identify and utilise underused or DOT-owned lands for parking expansion. Support for workforce development programs like the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot complements parking infrastructure by addressing industry labor shortages and improving logistical efficiency.
Local governments can facilitate the development of truck parking with private developers when public projects cannot be constructed. State transportation departments, however, are experiencing challenges with the operation and maintenance of existing truck parking facilities. AASHTO wants federal support for the operation and maintenance costs of truck parking facilities, in addition to construction funding.
The DOT Deputy Secretary, Steve Bradbury, has stated that the department wants to fund truck parking for truckers in the U.S., which is a critical need for safety. With these efforts, the federal government can empower states to enhance existing truck parking facilities and develop new ones. These actions improve driver safety, reduce fatigue-driven accidents, enhance freight reliability, and address a persistent bottleneck in the national transportation network.
[1] National Association of Truck Stop Operators (NATSO). (2022). DOT Announces $275 Million in Grants to Expand Truck Parking Capacity Nationwide. Retrieved from https://www.natso.com/news/dot-announces-275-million-in-grants-to-expand-truck-parking-capacity-nationwide
[2] U.S. House of Representatives. (2022). House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee Approves $200 Million for Truck Parking. Retrieved from https://transportation.house.gov/news/press-releases/house-transportation-appropriations-subcommittee-approves-200-million-for-truck-parking
[3] American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). (2022). AASHTO Comments on DOT’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Truck Parking. Retrieved from https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/AASHTO_comments_on_DOT_NPRM_Truck_Parking_Final_Jan_19_2022.pdf
[4] Ohio Department of Transportation. (2022). Ohio DOT Announces Plans to Double Truck Parking Capacity on State-Managed Properties. Retrieved from https://www.dot.ohio.gov/newsreleases/Ohio-DOT-Announces-Plans-to-Double-Truck-Parking-Capacity-on-State-Managed-Properties
[5] U.S. Senate. (2021). Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act. Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1678/text
- The DOT's focus on updating the National Freight Strategic Plan and increasing grant funding for truck parking expansion signifies a significant collaboration between the federal government and the trucking industry in enhancing the supply chain and logistics sector.
- In order to alleviate the national truck parking problem and improve the efficiency of the transportation industry, AASHTO advocates for flexible formula funding, operation and maintenance cost support, and light federal preemption in regarding regulations that affect parking compliance.
