Dive Brief:
- Ohio will double its truck parking capacity at sites maintained by the Ohio Department of Transportation by adding 1,400 spaces across 33 locations between 2026 and the end of 2027, according to a July 29 press release.
- The state has earmarked $150 million from its transportation budget for the commercial truck parking plan, which will create or expand long-term truck parking lots in 17 counties. Each parking area will have lighting and restroom facilities.
- Following the expansion, Ohio will lead the nation in the total number of long-term truck parking spaces available on state-owned property, per the American Transportation Research Institute.
Dive Insight:
Ohio is one of the country’s busiest freight corridors. Trucks logged 27.5 million miles on Ohio roads in 2023, and that is only expected to grow, as the ODOT anticipates a 26% increase in freight volume by 2045, according to the release.
And with that growth comes challenges — namely, a shortage of truck parking spaces.
There’s only one parking space for every 11 truck drivers on the road in the U.S., per the American Trucking Associations. In recent years, the ATA has reported that many drivers face difficulties finding safe truck parking, with over half resorting to parking in unauthorized spots at least three times per week.
Ohio currently has around 14,200 truck parking spaces, most of which are located in privately owned truck stops or businesses. For context, there were about 25 rest area truck parking spots per 100 miles of National Highway System roadway in the state as of 2022, according to the American Transportation Research Institute.
Ohio has made progress when it comes to increasing the availability of truck parking, however. In 2022, the state converted more than a dozen unused weigh stations into truck parking areas, creating 144 spaces. Then, in 2023, the state re-modernized 36 rest areas, which resulted in 401 new trucking spots.
And in October 2024, Ohio was awarded a $17.9 million grant to reopen two shuttered rest areas as truck parking facilities. That project added 138 spaces between the two locations.
“By expanding safe, accessible places for drivers to rest, we’re supporting the people who keep our economy moving and making it safer for everyone on our roads,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in the July 29 release.
