OOIDA Launches Truck Parking Information Webpage to Address Inadequate Parking

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has taken an initiative to address the issue of inadequate truck parking spaces in the infrastructure. To this end, the association has launched a webpage called FightingForTruckers.com/truck-parking-2/, which aims to provide information to lawmakers, government officials, and other stakeholders about the need for more truck parking spaces on the roads.

The webpage offers various fast facts, including a concerning statistic that reveals that there is only one parking spot for every 11 trucks on the road. OOIDA has also included a section on the webpage titled “Why Should You Care?,” which explains why the lack of truck parking is an issue that affects everyone, not just truckers. For instance, federal law limits the amount of time a truck driver can be on the road, and without sufficient parking spaces, drivers waste significant amounts of time looking for parking spots, which could otherwise be used to transport goods efficiently.

To tackle this problem, OOIDA has linked the webpage to another page that allows stakeholders to contact their federal lawmakers and urge them to co-sponsor the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act. The act was introduced on March 29 by U.S. Sens. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and U.S. Reps. Mike Bost (R-Ill.) and Angie Craig (D-Minn.). If passed into law, the act would allocate $755 million over three years to the construction of parking spots. The bill specifies that any project funded by the bill cannot include paid parking and that all parking spots must be publicly accessible and free of charge.

OOIDA has welcomed the introduction of the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act and has emphasized the importance of expanding truck parking spaces for the safety of drivers and other road users. As of April 18, HR2367 has acquired 13 co-sponsors, indicating growing support for the bill.