The $1.2 trillion federal spending bill signed by President Donald Trump Tuesday to keep the government running included $200 million to expand public truck parking around the country.
The appropriation was hailed by the American Trucking Associations as a historic first that directs dollars to expand the availability of truck parking.
“This substantial new funding that ATA championed will help us turn a corner on this issue,” ATA President and CEO Chris Spear said in a statement.
Addressing the nation’s trucking parking shortage has been an ATA priority. Spear said underinvestment in this infrastructure has made it difficult for truck drivers to do their jobs and creates significant hazards for all motorists.
“When truck drivers finish their shift or take their federally mandated rest break, the last thing they should have to worry about is finding a safe place to park,” Spear said.
Studies by the American Transportation Research Institute found that the average truck driver spends about 56 minutes of drive time daily seeking safe parking. This results in $6,813 in lost wages for truck drivers annually, according to ATA.
Many states, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Washington and Ohio, are also working to provide additional truck parking spaces and improve technology to help commercial drivers find spots to park.
