The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association asked Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to put $1 billion in discretionary infrastructure money into additional safe truck parking spaces. Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Transportation chief is sending $450 million to college professors and researchers to “study transportation.”
“I am inspired by the cutting-edge transportation technologies our UTC (University Transportation Centers) are developing,” Buttigieg reportedly said. “With this investment, we’ll be able to support a new generation of visionary leaders and advance research that will help to transform our transportation system with safer, cleaner, more accessible ways for people and goods to move in this country.”
During the $1.2 trillion infrastructure spending package negotiations, trucking advocacy groups managed to include funding for safe, overnight parking spaces. But that money was stripped away late in the legislative process as new electric cars and pet projects of the Biden Administration were fully funded.
And when pressed about using billions in discretionary money to improve working conditions for truckers, the DOT secretary indicated parking “is not only an issue of convenience, it is an issue of safety.” Given that zero movement has been made since the Owner-Operators group and others aired their concerns, one can only assume truckers are hearing political double-talk. The following are grants that colleges and universities received in 2019 to study freight transportation.
- Reducing Congestion: The University of South Florida, among others, led research into congestion with a $7,387,500 grant.
- Extending the Life of Transportation Infrastructure: Washington State University, among others, received $7,387,500.
The amount of taxpayer dollars being funneled into colleges and universities is much higher than when former Pres. Obama channeled $305 million into the program from 2016 to 2020, before leaving office. The Biden Administration recently laid out its priorities as colleges and universities bid on the $450 million grant pool.
- Improving Mobility of People and Goods.
- Reducing Congestion.
- Promoting Safety.
- Improving the Durability and Extending the Life of Transportation Infrastructure.
- Preserving the Environment.
- Preserving the Existing Transportation System.
- Reducing Transportation Cybersecurity Risks.
“DOT’s multimodal UTC program is the bedrock of our innovative, transformative, and cohesive transportation future,” Dr. Robert C. Hampshire, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, reportedly said. “These investments will lead to cutting edge transportation research, train a diverse next generation of transportation professionals, and ultimately help the American people get to where they need to go much more quickly and affordably.”
Contrary to what many truck drivers may think about the issue, members of the administration indicate that research remains a priority while safe parking goes unfunded. The amount of money being sent to colleges and universities is nearly half the request made by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association in its letter to Sec. Buttigieg in November 2021.
Sources: thetrucker.com, transportation.gov
What does the 🧚♀️ queen know about trucking? Another setback for truckers.
Typical low-class remark from a typical low-class owner-operator.
Don’t you see you are asking to be a welfare queen?
I don’t want my tax dollars spent so you can park. Let private industry handle it.
The best alternative would be to require all OTR movements be performed by sleeper teams.
Keeping drivers from loitering in truck stops would reduce truck stop prostitution, drug use and the other occuring seemly truck stop behavior.
Actually all freight traveling long distances should go by train.
Haha, lmmfao. You are truly a hater and a negatoilet type believer. I won’t speak for all of my fellow drivers. However in 15 years of driving, over 13 as O/O, I’ve never loitered in any truckstop, had relations with prostitutes, whores, or used drugs. Your beliefs are yours and entitled to them while they’re limiting and unrealistic as well as unreasonable. Fortunately we still live in a land that allows choice. If it were up to you, you’d choose for others in your self serving way, under the guise of mistakenly believing you know what’s best. Get over yourself please, and learn how to live and live. Peace
Impressive….. although college & universities perhaps don’t know the ‘real world’.
Comprehensive & Statistics don’t always match with real world analysis. FMCSA & Pete Buttigieg are attempting to wrap arms around an elephant.
Infrastructure monies & case studies are for the future….the industry needs fast-track approach.
Only one part of the elephant Petey Buttmunch would like to wrap around.
Hear, hear
Almost half a billion dollars completely absolutely and utterly wasted for nothing. I guess universities don’t make enough money charging 100,000 dollars for tuition.
Like I said before, half of the money will be wasted on panels and researchers to “study” the issues while the other half will be wasted on diversity and inclusion projects. What a crying shame we couldn’t have a normal person as transportation secretary.
If they don’t understand the transportation sector by now, those funds are completely lost and those that really need necessary changes to take place will be affected in the wrong way, just another decision of political action.
Another example of “throwing money at insignificant ideas and feel-good politics”…And they cannot solve the trucking industry problems that have been evident and increasing for several decades…Remember to vote in the Mid-term elections
I really had high hopes for Mr. Buttigieg. Even sent him a good email with some pretty straightforward insight into why most drivers are walking away from the industry. But no, they’re not interested in actually fixing the problems. The fact is, they already know this neglected system is broken beyond repair. At this point, it’s all about politics and lining as many pockets as they can, and funding pet-projects (regardless of wether or not it holds any viability). The greatest catalyst for the economic shape the country is presently in, is deregulated greed, and a transportation and logistics sector that has been systematically and intentionally crippled. The out-of-control fuel cost gouging, will likely be the final nail in the coffin. We’re screwed.
Sorry to have to clue you in, but owner-operators have been screwed for decades. Not by the government but by your masters.
There always has been and there always will be plenty of suckers to just take it-and whine about it.
So learn to like it. Either that or get smarter and buy a lawnmower, weed whipper and blower.
Studies seldom do anything worthwhile, other than giving said researchers a platform to expound on their own opinions
Read this and remember and respond with your vote.
Read this and remember to respond with your vote in Nov and in 2 years.
Sure thing, because the voting system isn’t rigged or anything. I’m certain buden got all 68m votes and no voting fraud took place or anything….
This is only one more way for this administration to raid the taxpayer’s coffers and give it to cronies. There doesn’t need to be another ‘study’. There needs to be action. Almost all the money ‘earmarked’ for infrastructure will be sucked up by ‘experts’ and ‘advisors’.
81 million plus votes for Bidumbn and Gmayor Pete….Sure…..Sure there was. VOTE in 2022!!! New laws will make it harder to steal an election in competitive states. SAVE AMERICA!!!
They’re thinking autonomous trucks will be the future & the need for parking won’t be an issue. Since they can run them from point A to point B, no breaks required.
They will run it like a drone & have retired truckers sitting at a desk somewhere watching trucks to make sure they keep operating.
I’m not an advocate for this, in case you’re wondering. I think it sucks!
They will spend all that money on researching and nothing will get done anyway. Then why would they want to build more parking spaces for the truckers that cannot keep a waste can in their truck and dispose of it properly instead of throwing it out the window I am a trucker and I know some do, but others do not and it’s 4-wheelers to doing it. I guess it will never change. We always have prisoners to pick up the trash, of course we have to pay them too.
It ain’t his money so of course he’s gonna waste it!
Give me this money I can fix this industry in less and 30 days then I’ll retire