The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has released a comprehensive study detailing how states are addressing the critical shortage of truck parking across the U.S. With parking scarcity topping the list of concerns among truck drivers for five consecutive years, this research breaks down state-by-state efforts, funding sources, and the true costs of expanding truck parking at public rest areas.
Truck Parking: More Than Just Convenience
ATRI Senior Vice President Dan Murray emphasized the importance of truck parking as more than just a driver perk. “It’s not just a convenience for truck drivers. It’s about compliance with federal hours-of-service laws and reducing fatigue-related risks,” he said. Truck parking directly impacts highway safety, driver wellbeing, and operational efficiency.
Public rest areas serve a distinct purpose compared to private truck stops, which typically offer better amenities. Drivers tend to favor private stops for long breaks or overnight stays but rely heavily on public rest areas for short stops and compliance with mandatory rest periods. While public sites may lack extensive amenities, they are crucial for quick stops and provide vital parking access in underserved regions.
Parking Availability and Efficiency
According to the study, the U.S. had 313,000 truck parking spaces in 2020, 87% of which were provided by private facilities. Public rest areas accounted for about 40,000 spaces. On average, there is one public truck parking space for every four private spaces — a ratio that ATRI considers reasonable. However, this varies greatly by state.
For example, Vermont maintains a near-ideal 1-to-1.5 public-to-private space ratio, while Louisiana lags significantly behind with a 1-to-42 ratio, suggesting underinvestment in public infrastructure. ATRI labeled states like Vermont as “on-target” and states like Louisiana as “expansion opportunity” areas.
The Cost of Inaction
Insufficient parking leads to economic and safety repercussions. ATRI’s 2016 study found that drivers lose up to 56 minutes daily searching for parking, resulting in an average loss of 9,300 revenue-earning miles per year — or roughly $7,000 in income.
The current median cost for constructing one truck parking space is around $93,500. Ongoing maintenance also comes at a price. Median state budgets for maintaining rest areas were $5 million, with southern states spending the most ($6.5 million) and western and midwestern states spending the least ($3.7 million).
Funding Challenges and Federal Support
Funding remains the primary hurdle. Among the 47 states studied, 19 used a mix of federal and state funds, 17 relied solely on state funding, and 11 used only federal dollars. From 2022 to 2026, federal programs such as INFRA, RAISE, and the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program are expected to contribute nearly $752 million to truck parking projects, helping fund over 2,000 new spaces.
Legislation like the Truck Parking Safety Act, reintroduced multiple times since 2021, could provide an additional $755 million for dedicated parking expansion. As Congress continues to weigh infrastructure priorities, industry leaders are hopeful that parking remains a top agenda item.
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