A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators and Representatives are again attempting to pass legislation to provide more safe parking for truck drivers.
On Wednesday, March 29, the bicameral ‘Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act‘ was reintroduced in Congress by U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and U.S. Representatives Mike Bost (R-IL) and Angie Craig (D-MN).
The bill would provide hundreds of millions of dollars worth of funding to create new truck parking facilities and to convert existing weigh stations and rest stops into truck parking. The legislation would allow the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide competitive grants to groups providing new truck parking facilities.
Similar legislation has been introduced in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
The legislation is supported by trucking trade group Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), who note that truckers spend about an hour a day trying to secure a parking space.
“Most folks probably don’t realize that 70% of American freight is transported by truck, yet incredibly there is only 1 parking spot for every 11 trucks on the road,” said Todd Spencer, President of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. “When truck drivers don’t have a designated place to park, they end up parking on the side of the road, near exit ramps, or elsewhere. This isn’t safe for the driver and it’s not safe for others on the road. Senator Lummis, Senator Kelly, Representative Bost, and Representative Craig have heard from small business truckers across America and are leading the charge in Congress to improve road safety through expanded truck parking.”
“I grew up in a family trucking business. I understand how difficult, and oftentimes dangerous, it can be when America’s truckers are forced to push that extra mile in search of a safe place to park. By expanding access to parking options for truckers, we are making our roads safer for all commuters and ensuring that goods and supplies are shipped to market in the most efficient way possible. This is a matter of public safety; and I’m committed to do all I can to drive this legislation over the finish line,” said Congressman Mike Bost.
“Wyoming is home to three major interstates that carry thousands of tons of cargo a day. Without safe truck parking, truckers spend an unnecessary amount of time searching for a place to park – putting truckers and Wyoming drivers at greater risk for accidents. This is easily solvable, and I am thankful to Senator Kelly for joining me in finding a commonsense solution,” said Senator Lummis. “People in Wyoming are still feeling the impacts of the supply chain crisis, and unreliable truck parking is another contributing factor to that. Fixing the parking problem will help ease this burden on consumers.”