America's Truck Parking Crisis

Written By Zion Creative

How the Shortage of Parking Spaces is Affecting the Trucking Industry

Truck parking has been a long-standing issue for truck drivers in the US. According to an analysis conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), truck drivers found truck parking availability to be their number one concern in 2020-2023. A 2016 study by ATRI and industry analysis firm Rebecca Brewster Associates wherein drivers were surveyed about their experiences identified that 84% of respondents believed there was no adequate amount of truck parking available. The lack of available truck parking is a major issue for the US trucking industry, negatively affecting driver safety and limiting transportation efficiency. To ensure that all drivers have access to safe and secure rest areas, ATRI is advocating for increased investment in infrastructure to improve access to existing rest areas as well as create new ones across the nation.    

According to ATRI's 2020-2023 survey, truck parking remains one of the most pressing challenges for the trucking industry. The truck freight industry is burdened by limited construction and increased consumer demand, resulting in fewer available parking spots. Trucking associations such as American Transportation Research Association (ATRA) are asking for additional federal transportation money to help with regulatory burdens and local government initiatives that would allow for more rest areas. The ATRA survey found that nearly 60% of drivers have experienced difficulty in finding parking at least once a week due to lack of space or availability. In addition, over 40% of drivers reported feeling unsafe when forced to park on public roads or other non-designated areas due to lack of rest area access. The research also found that an increase in federal funding could provide much needed relief from these issues, allowing for more rest stops and better enforcement of existing laws regarding hours-of-service regulations.    

The lack of truck parking has become a major issue for both independent and corporate drivers, as well as for the supply chain operators that rely on them. As such, there have been calls from both sides of the aisle to pass meaningful truck parking legislation. In 2021, bipartisan support was seen in Congress for increasing federal funding to address the truck parking situation. However, this legislation failed to pass due to limited federal funding and no major infrastructure package being passed in 2020 or 2021. With no relief from the shortage of available spaces and limited enforcement of hours-of-service regulations, driver retention continues to be an issue with fleets needing more drivers every year while struggling to find qualified applicants. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) and other associations representing independent drivers are pushing for changes at a federal level that would allow for more funding specifically for improving existing rest stops or developing new ones along highways across America. The ATA is also pushing for legislative efforts that would help increase safety measures around these areas as well as improve customer service at rest stops across America – something which can be difficult with limited personnel on average days throughout a given year.    

Rebecca Brewster, president and CEO of the American Transportation Research Institute, has done a lot of research on this issue. She noted that driver compensation is one of the main factors contributing to the shortage, but also pointed out there are other elements at play such as fleet concerns and truck parking. She believes that if fleets can offer better amenities for their drivers, they will be more likely to stay with them long-term. Brewster's analysis also found that truck parking is a major concern in the industry today; it's estimated that over 400,000 trucks are parked on highways each night due to lack of space at rest stops or other designated areas for truckers. This can lead to dangerous situations for both drivers and passengers alike as well as increased environmental impacts from idling engines. The debate around driver shortages in the U.S., and how best to address these issues is ongoing across many sectors – from legislative efforts on Capitol Hill all the way down to individual fleets addressing their own concerns around driver compensation and amenities offered by carriers.  

But for the trucking industry, one of the top ten issues identified by commercial drivers is a lack of truck parking – and it’s been listed as the number three issue for over ten years. In 2020-2023, this shortage is still a major contributor to driver fatigue and an overall lack of job satisfaction within the trucking industry.    

Federal law requires truck drivers to adhere to strict regulations of no more than 14 hours of consecutive driving, however, the current lack of quality parking spaces and infrastructure leaves drivers with nowhere to rest. This puts many drivers in a difficult situation as they are forced to drive for extended periods despite being fatigued due to the short supply of available parking spots. Not only is this an issue for truckers who have already hit their 14 hour max but also those who are just beginning their routes and need somewhere safe and comfortable to rest before continuing on.    Show Source Texts

According to the American Farm Bureau, trucking is playing an outsized role in US supply chains and with the current shortage of semitruck drivers, it’s putting a strain on our economy. The lack of en route parking has caused drivers to spend hours searching for a place to rest, risking their safety and that of others. Andrew Walmsley from the American Farm Bureau says “The federal government needs to step up and provide additional funding for more truck parking at the state and farm level”. This will help ease the burden many semi-truck drivers are facing today by providing them with safer places to rest during their long hauls across America.    

The lack of truck parking in the United States is a major problem for truck drivers, with the American Trucking Associations reporting that there are over 250,000 posts available nationwide. However, from 2020 to 2023 there has been no increase in the number of posts available, leading to a serious shortfall in safe and secure parking spots for semi-trucks. This shortage is causing severe challenges and concerns for truckers who face long hours on the road combined with limited access to rest stops or places where they can safely park their trucks. In response to these issues, state transportation departments have been working together with associations like ATA to develop solutions that will help alleviate this issue. Some states have even implemented new laws that require more parking spots be created along major routes.    

The American Trucking Associations recently estimated that there are now over a million truck parking spaces available across the U.S. This is still far less than what is needed, as the organization estimates that nearly 11 million drivers are currently in need of truck parking abilities. The shortage of truck parking has been an issue since 2012, when a larger federal transportation bill was passed and highway funds were used to create additional parking spaces. Unfortunately, those efforts have failed to keep up with the growing demand for available truck spots, leaving many drivers struggling to find places to rest overnight while on their routes. In 2019 Jason's Transportations conducted a study which showed that more than one-third of all drivers had trouble finding appropriate parking spots during their trips across America's highways and byways. This lack of available truck parking has become an even bigger problem due to the Coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the trucking industry in 2020-2023.    

Zion Creative https://zioncreative.co
Previous

Targeted and Vulnerable