The Issue

All long haul truckers need a safe, secure place to park that is easily accessible from the interstates.  Unfortunately, this basic requirement, which is also necessary for truckers to be compliant with hours-of-service regulations, is in extremely short supply. If a driver is unable to find legal parking, he or she is in a very precarious position, forced to either operate illegally or park illegally. This presents a safety issue not only for the driver, but for the motoring public as well.

The shortage is primarily caused by a lack of finances available to build and maintain parking. In the last highway authorization bill (SAFETEA LU) there were two programs to help states address the parking shortage. One was called the “Truck Parking Pilot Program” and the other was called the “Interstate Oasis” program. The first program set aside $25 million, or $5 million a year, to expand parking capacity.  None of that money was spent on parking and the last administration decided to re-designate that money for the “Corridors of the Future” program.  By the end of last year, that program provided $11 million to two small truck parking projects (I-5 and I-95). The “Interstate Oasis” program, however, did nothing to increase parking capacity at all.  This turned into more of a marketing program whereby some states could use it to direct traffic to existing private parking facilities.

Currently, the states of Virginia, Vermont, Ohio, and Indiana are closing many of their public rest areas in response to budget problems.

The Status

In July, the Virginia Department of Transportation closed 19 of Virginia’s 42 public rest areas citing budget problems.  The rest areas selected for closure were based on proximity to truck stops and gas stations. If the federal moratorium on commercialization of public rest areas is not lifted, in 2010 there could be closures of another 22 rest areas in Virginia.  The 2-hour parking rule at rest areas was eliminated, and replaced with a “no overnight parking” rule.   

House Transportation Chairman Oberstar introduced the Surface Transportation Authorization Act (see “Highway Funding ” Issues & Actions) which terminates the Interstate Oasis program. Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) introduced “Jason’s Law” or H.R. 2156.  Jason’s Law is a bill that will provide grant money to increase security and expand parking areas for trucks across the country, which in essence is a reauthorization of the Truck Parking Pilot Program, but at higher funding levels. Senator Chuck Schumer introduced “Jason’s Law” companion bill in the U.S. Senate – S. 971. The STAA currently does not contain the Truck Parking Pilot Program or Jason’s Law.

What we can do

Members should contact their Congressmen and Senators and  ask them to support H.R. 2156 and S. 971 by signing on as co-sponsors of those bills.  Truckers should stress to their lawmakers the safety and security issues that surround the lack of truck parking. 

To contact their U.S. lawmakers, truckers can call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121, provide the operator with their home state or zip code and the operators will connect them with the appropriate offices.