Trucking industry leaders were optimistic that the White House and Department of Transportation would deliver when they backed the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. But since going into effect on Nov. 15, one of truck drivers’ deepest concerns is not being addressed — safe overnight parking.
Optimism has significantly declined regarding the Infrastructure spending package, and trucking organizations have renewed their call for improved working conditions. On Feb. 18, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) presented a united front by sending a strong letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, renewing the call for increased safe parking. The following excerpt was signed by ATA President Chris Spear and OOIDA President Todd Spencer. Their language could not be any clearer.
“On behalf of America’s trucking industry, which employs 7.9 million Americans and moves more than 71 percent of domestic freight throughout the country, we write to request assistance from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to address the nationwide shortage of truck parking capacity. The truck parking shortage has plagued the trucking industry for decades, and the consequences of insufficient capacity are as wide-ranging as they are severe,” the joint letter reportedly states. “The scarcity of truck parking spaces across the country decreases safety for all highway users, exacerbates the industry’s longstanding workforce challenges, contributes negatively to driver health and well-being, diminishes trucking productivity, and results in unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions. It is critical that the USDOT coordinate with the White House, State Departments of Transportation, Congress, and other stakeholders to ensure that appropriate actions are taken to mitigate the growing truck parking shortage so that trucking can continue to deliver for America.”
The call to action also states that a Bill is already in place that would begin curing the problem. Reports indicate that for every 11 hard-working truckers, there is only one available parking space. Illinois Rep. Mike Bost filed the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act (H.R. 2187) that would invest upwards of $755 million over five years into truck parking. What’s increasingly frustrating is the fact the ATA and OOIDA largely supported the Infrastructure package with the understanding working conditions and safety would be addressed.
Sec. Buttigieg reportedly received $11 billion for safety initiatives and billions more in discretionary spending. To date, not a dime has been approved to increase the number of parking spaces on some of the country’s most-used and congested highways. These rank among the White House and DOT funding priorities.
- $50 billion to protect infrastructure from cybersecurity attacks.
- $39 billion to upgrade public transit, create new bus routes.
- $17 billion for port infrastructure and truck emissions at ports.
- $7.5 billion for a nationwide network of electric vehicle charging stations.
Research indicates truckers spend nearly one hour of on-duty hours every day to find parking. That wasted time adds up to approximately $5,500 in lost compensation, the equivalent of a 12 percent pay cut. Beyond the lost income, the men and women who deliver the country’s goods and materials are placed at unnecessary risk.
Sources: ttnews.com, investopedia.com
They seem to think we need electronic signs telling how many spots are available 10, 35 and 85 miles ahead instead of actual parking spots. We can’t park on those expensive signs that don’t help. We already know parking is low between 1930 and 0500, stop wasting money on worthless signs and pave paradise for parking spots!!!
After 4pm is almost impossible to find a safe parking spot.
So truckers are parking anywhere they could park with the risk of being hit by something or even loosing their life…. Tickets are normal and shipper/receiver are building brand new mega facility with big signs stating that trucks must leave facility immediately after being loaded/unloaded.
Even empty streets with tons of huge boulders are placed near entrances so truckers can’t park on huge empty streets.
We need trucks but we don’t care about truckers…this is every day experience.
When parking is available on the side of the road some truck drivers are trashing the place….the same way they trash in their home countries they came from ….we know who they are….everyone in trucking industry knows who they are….
That’s because u pussy flat bedders are parked jerking off and taking up spaces
RETURN HOME….
Because white American drives are always so clean and classy.
Need to write, email, call these people and your Reps. When the 10 hour rule came into effect we were promised more rest areas too. It used to be taboo to park along highway entrances and exits. Now it’s common place. Always been dangerous. The man got you sleeping and driving like you are a robot slave.
It’s never gonna happen. We’ll be discussing the same issue 20 years from now. The public has no apetite for trucks being parked close to where they live, so it’s the local Municipal and County politicians who will allow it over their dead bodies.
If the drivers could pick up after themselves. Local communities would be more open to trucks parking in their areas.
I just want to know, if they can’t figure out the parking issues, how are they going to address the charging issues when we go electric????