Washington, D.C. — The Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, a bipartisan effort to fund free truck parking, secured a new co‑sponsor on March 14 when Sen. Pete Ricketts (R‑Neb.) added his name, pushing the $755 million, three‑year program closer to passage.

The nation faces a stark parking crunch: the Owner‑Operator Independent Drivers Association and the American Trucking Associations report only one legal space for every 11 drivers. That deficit forces OTR truck drivers and CDL‑A drivers into unsafe layovers or illegal stops, raising crash risk and jeopardizing FMCSA compliance.

House Rep. Henry Cuellar (D‑TX) pledged his support for the House version on March 5, while the Senate companion, S1034, was introduced by Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R‑WY) in 2023. The House bill, reintroduced by Rep. Mike Bost (R‑IL) as HR2367, now lists 47 co‑sponsors—24 Republicans and 23 Democrats—illustrating cross‑party urgency. The Senate version counts 15 co‑sponsors, spanning both parties and an Independent, underscoring a shared recognition that parking scarcity endangers drivers and the motoring public.

What This Means for Drivers

Owners‑operator and fleet managers can expect new, publicly accessible parking lots to appear along major corridors, reducing the need to park on shoulders or in residential zones. The legislation explicitly bars paid parking, meaning drivers will not face additional fees when seeking a safe stop. With more legitimate spots, drivers can better adhere to hours‑of‑service rules, lowering the likelihood of fatigue‑related violations. In the long run, the added capacity should ease the pressure on regional terminals that currently serve as makeshift parking areas.

Industry Reaction

OOIDA’s executive vice president Lewie Pugh credited grassroots lobbying for recent grant announcements, noting that $300 million in parking grants awarded earlier this year stemmed from persistent advocacy. Pugh warned that while the grants are “not home runs,” they signal tangible progress. Carriers across the country have echoed the sentiment, saying that reliable parking directly improves driver retention and reduces costly detours caused by illegal stops.

Key Points

• Bill allocates $755 million over three years for free, public truck parking.
• Only one parking space exists for every 11 truck drivers, per OOIDA and ATA data.
• Sen. Pete Ricketts joined as co‑sponsor on March 14; Rep. Henry Cuellar backed the House version on March 5.
• OOIDA’s lobbying helped secure $300 million in parking grants earlier in 2026.

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