The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) shared resources available in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address the nation’s truck parking shortage at the National Coalition of Truck Parking meeting Friday.
The department shared a new handbook for states detailing strategies for developing truck parking and best practices for designing and constructing new truck parking.
Officials discussed the funding resources eligible for truck parking projects.
“I’ve heard from countless truckers across the country about how the shortage of truck parking costs them time and money—not to mention making our roads less safe and weakening our supply chains,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. “We’re using funds from President (Joe) Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help address truck parking shortages, and we’re working with state and industry leaders to develop more parking that will improve safety and quality of life for our nation’s truck drivers.”
A total of 98 percent of drivers report problems finding safe parking, according to the American Trucking Associations and Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. More than 56 minutes of drive-time is used trying to find parking, equaling an estimated $5,500 loss in annual compensation.
The department also updated guidance on the sources of federal funding that are eligible for states interested in making further investments in truck parking.