Trucker turned lawmaker introduces bill to fix ‘critical shortage’ of safe semi truck parking

On Monday, a U.S. Representative and former truck driver reintroduced legislation to address a lack of safe parking areas for truckers.

On March 26, U.S. Reps. Mike Bost and Angie Craig introduced H.R.2187, known as the “the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act.”

The bill would “establish a set-aside source of funding from existing U.S. Department of Transportation funding to create more parking spots.”

The bill would build on Jason’s Law, which was passed by Congress in 2012. Jason’s Law was named after Jason Rivenburg, who was killed in an act of violent crime after he was unable to find a safe place to park his semi. In the nearly 10 years since Jason’s Law passed, it has led to federal studies, stakeholder meetings, and roundtables to examine truck parking issues.

Bost initially introduced the bill in March 2020 but it failed to advance before the legislative session came to a close.

“I grew up in a family trucking business and spent years driving over the road,” said Rep. Bost. “Since then, we’ve seen the need for more trucks and drivers increase significantly, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when trucking helped to keep our economy going. However, the number of truck parking spaces hasn’t kept pace. That means that drivers are forced to park in unsafe locations, which puts both them and other motorists at risk. Creating sufficient parking options for long-haul truckers will not only help keep truckers safe during their rest breaks but will also mean safer roads for everyone.”

“Without adequate parking, truck drivers are forced to pull to the side of the road or continue driving – both of which are risky,” said Rep. Craig. “I’m proud to join Representative Bost to reintroduce the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act which would increase truck parking spaces and improve safety for the folks who transport our goods and everyone on our roads.”

The Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act is co-sponsored by Reps. John Garamendi (D-CA), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Pete Stauber (R-MN), and Susan Wild (D-PA) and is supported by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the National Association of Small Trucking Companies, American Highway Users Alliance, and the Institute for Safer Trucking.

Bost has supported other pro-trucker legislation, including effort to remove an amendment to increase minimum insurance requirements for truckers from a transportation spending bill.