Nashville, Tenn. — At the Truckload 2024 conference, FMCSA acting deputy Sue Lawless announced a $180 million grant package aimed at expanding truck parking and modernizing driver registration systems.

The speech underscored the agency’s zero‑fatalities ambition, a cornerstone of the National Roadway Safety Strategy, and tied driver safety directly to national highway safety. Lawless reminded the audience that every safe mile driven by a CDL‑A driver or owner‑operator protects the broader traveling public.

Lawless cited 41,000 traffic deaths recorded in 2025, a modest drop from prior years, and highlighted recent infrastructure grants: $180 million to the Florida Department of Transportation for more than 900 new parking spots, $92 million to Missouri for combined parking and information systems, and $22 million to Tennessee for a bridge replacement that adds additional parking bays. She also announced FMCSA‑funded research into real‑time parking availability and connected‑truck safety data, as well as studies on driver compensation and detention time aimed at keeping OTR truck drivers on the road longer.

What This Means for Drivers

Owner‑operators can expect reduced detention as more secure parking eases the hunt for safe pull‑over locations, directly lowering fuel costs and driver fatigue. The new registration platform will streamline the CDL‑A driver enrollment process, cut fraudulent entries, and give carriers faster access to compliance data. Training grants, including a dedicated stream for veterans, will fund up to 1,200 seats in CDL programs, opening pathways for new truck driver jobs and helping existing drivers upgrade their skills. Carriers that adopt heavy‑duty automatic emergency braking technology will benefit from FMCSA incentives that align with the agency’s push to lower crash severity.

Industry Reaction

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