Washington, D.C. — The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association has formally requested that U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg earmark $1 billion from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act specifically to expand truck parking capacity nationwide. Todd Spencer, president and CEO of the association, outlined the severe risks drivers face daily in a correspondence sent to the Department of Transportation, emphasizing that the severe shortage of legal spaces compromises highway safety for every motorist on the road.
When commercial drivers cannot secure safe and legal spots to rest, they face an impossible choice. Many are forced to park on dangerous road shoulders, abandon rigs in vacant lots, or push past fatigue in violation of federal hours-of-service regulations just to find a secure location. Federal studies and numerous state analyses have repeatedly confirmed the deficit of parking infrastructure, yet previous legislative packages failed to designate exclusive funding to solve the problem.
While federal officials and supply chain leaders frequently discuss strategies to improve retention among CDL-A drivers and owner-operators, the persistent lack of basic amenities continues to drive experienced professionals out of the industry. Spencer noted that addressing this crisis is vital for making long-haul careers viable and sustainable, pointing out that weary operators cannot be expected to remain in a profession where finding a place to sleep is a nightly battle.
What This Means for Drivers
The chronic lack of safe infrastructure directly impacts daily operations for OTR truck drivers trying to manage their driving clocks legally. Professional drivers frequently burn valuable duty-status time hunting for legal spots as evening approaches, cutting into required rest periods. Pushing forward to find a secure lot often forces operators to violate federal hours-of-service rules or risk hefty fines and safety citations by parking on highway ramps.
Industry Reaction
Industry stakeholders and congressional leaders have voiced strong, bipartisan backing for federal investments in freight infrastructure, yet advocacy groups argue that months of studies must finally give way to concrete capital spending. Trucking companies hiring across the country routinely hear from recruits that quality-of-life issues like secure parking rank just as high as freight rates when deciding where to anchor their businesses.
Key Points
- OOIDA requested $1 billion from the IIJA specifically for truck parking.
- Federal and state studies confirm a severe, worsening shortage of commercial spaces.
- Drivers are often forced to choose between hours-of-service violations and unsafe shoulder parking.
- Industry advocates stress that solving the parking shortage is critical for driver retention.
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