Dive Brief:
- The Washington State Department of Transportation, or WSDOT, plans to launch a $2.3 million initiative to help truckers locate parking in rest areas along Interstate 5, according to an Oct. 14 press release.
- The agency will deploy a Truck Parking Information Management System from Canada-based tech firm Quarterhill. The system will provide real-time parking availability updates through in-cab displays or the ParkerTruck app, per a WSDOT press release. The data will be provided by University of Washington Star Lab, Drivewyze and ParkerTruck.
- Deployment of the technology will span the I-5 corridor from Vancouver, Washington, to the Canadian border, per the release. The agency is planning for future expansion across other freight routes in the state.
Dive Insight:
Secure and reliable truck parking remains a challenge for the freight industry. The Washington State Department of Transportation’s initiative follows other agencies such Ohio DOT and Florida DOT in attempting to mitigate the issue.
“Reliable access to truck parking information not only supports safer freight movement but also strengthens the resilience of Washington's transportation network for all road users,” Matt Neeley, state traffic systems development engineer for WSDOT, said in the release.
Truckers often spend more than an hour looking for space to park, WSDOT said in a press release. "Nationwide, there is just one parking space for every 11 trucks. Seventy-five percent of Washington’s truck drivers report problems finding safe parking at least once every week," the agency said.
Quarterhill has worked with several DOT agencies such as Arkansas, Idaho and Oklahoma.
Recently, the Arkansas DOT announced a $2.7 million project using Quarterhill’s artificial intelligence-based sensors to streamline truck safety inspections without expanding roads.
During congressional hearings, trucking groups have called for an increase in funding for parking spots as Congress works on the next surface transportation reauthorization bill.
“Each day, 2.4 million commercial trucks need parking spaces for drivers to take their required 10-hour rest breaks,” according to truck parking network Truck Parking Club. “But across the entire United States, only 697,000 official parking spaces exist—creating a shortage of 1.7 million spaces, or roughly 70% of daily demand.”
