Truck parking has been an industry problem for years. More fleets and truck drivers are seeking a solution that includes more accessible, safe parking along U.S. freight corridors.
Going into 2024, the only thing that concerned trucking industry stakeholders more than truck parking was the economy, according to the American Transportation Research Institute’s annual industry issues study.
A July crash involving a Greyhound bus hitting three tractor-trailers parked along a highway exit ramp in Illinois killed three people and injured 14 others, highlighting the peril that drivers face when they can’t find safe places to take federally-mandated breaks.
Congress has tried to address the problem with the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, which was proposed last year. It would authorize $755 million in competitive grant funding to expand commercial truck parking capacity across the U.S., if enacted.
A recent study by Trucker Path, a technology company and mobile app that helps truck drivers find parking and other amenities, found that the truck parking situation improved from 2021 to 2023.
What to expect from parking in 2024
According to Chris Oliver, growth catalyst and strategic advisor with Trucker Path, the forward momentum we saw in 2023 isn’t going to likely slow down as we head into 2024.
“It's been pretty tough with the industry. There's been a lot of exits,” Oliver told FleetOwner. “Obviously, nobody likes that, but on the parking side compared to 2021, space availability has gone up rather significantly in the last couple years. And one can only assume that's because a lot of drivers and companies have left the market, and there's just less and less freight being moved so there's less need for parking. I don't see that changing too quickly.”
With the truck parking legislation in Congress, there could be hope in 2024. In a recent press release, the American Trucking Associations also announced two new federal investments by the U.S. Department of Transportation that will add nearly 400 truck parking spaces in Wyoming and Iowa. This and other pushes from the ATA for more truck parking at the end of 2023 could come to fruition in 2024. But Oliver says to not be too hopeful.
“[Parking] is not something that gets fixed quickly and easily,” Oliver said. “I think the raised awareness will certainly contribute to it not getting worse, but I don't expect it to magically improve and become amazing this year.”
How the trucking industry can help
So while there likely won’t be any miracles when it comes to truck parking this year, there are some things industry professionals should keep in mind. The first is that, despite legislation being important, it won’t completely fix the truck parking problem.
“The government is not going to fix this problem,” Oliver said. “They can certainly help create some momentum and even earmark some dollars, but this is something that the private sector really needs to focus on… Ultimately it's those of us in the private sector that really need to band together, execute our plans, and then work on making it easy for drivers to find those parking spaces.”
See also: Heller: Don't assume Congress understands truck parking
And while the private sector is working on this problem, drivers should remember what truck parking resources are available to them. There are now multiple apps and services that can help truckers locate safe parking, such as Trucker Path and DAT’s TruckPark. Additionally, Oliver said new businesses are popping up that can provide truck parking on a reservation basis, such as Pilot Flying J’s prime parking. All of these are great resources drivers can use to locate parking that is safe, available, and accessible.
