FHWA Hosts First Rest Area Forum

ATLANTA — Carriers, drivers, regulators and truck stop operators grappled last week with the issue of where tired truck drivers can get some rest while on the job.

The biggest issues identified during the Federal Highway Administration’s first-ever Rest Area Forum were providing information on parking, adding spaces and increasing safety.

“For the first time, we have brought together all the players to focus on providing adequate rest areas for truck drivers,” said Julie Cirillo, program manager for the Office of Motor Carrier and Highway Safety.

Adding truck parking spaces at rest areas is one way the FHWA plans to meet its goal of cutting truck-related fatalities in half over the next decade, she said.

“This issue is one of fatigue, not the availability of truck parking spaces,” Cirillo said June 29 at the start of the forum. “An hours-of-service rule is an exercise in futility if there is no place for drivers to safely pull off the road when they run out of hours.”

Participants — who included federal and state regulators and law enforcement officials, carriers, drivers and industry group representatives — tried to develop recommendations to make sure drivers have a place to rest.

For the full story, see the July 5 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.