House Panel Advances Truck Parking Bill
[Stay on top of transportation news: Get TTNews in your inbox.]
Legislation designed to expand parking facilities for truck drivers was easily advanced by the transportation panel in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act gained voice-vote approval during its consideration before the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on May 23. The panel met to advance various bills meant to expedite the flow of freight along commercial corridors.
The bipartisan parking legislation now awaits consideration in the House chamber. A vote has yet to be scheduled.
Sponsored by Reps. Mike Bost (R-Ill.) and Angie Craig (D-Minn.), the bill would authorize $755 million through fiscal 2026 to expand parking access for commercial vehicles. State agencies would be tasked with adding parking to existing facilities and assisting with the construction of new facilities.
Bost
“I grew up in a family trucking business,” Bost said in a statement after the committee’s approval of the bill. “I understand how difficult, and oftentimes dangerous, it can be when America’s truckers are forced to park in an unsafe location.”
“By expanding access to parking options for truckers, we are making our roads safer for all commuters and ensuring that goods and supplies are shipped to market in the most efficient way possible,” Bost continued. “This is a matter of public safety; and I’m proud to have led on this important legislation.”
Sens, Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.)
On the other side of the Capitol, Sens. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) lead efforts to advance a companion bill. Its committee consideration has yet to be scheduled.
“Wyoming is home to three major interstates that carry thousands of tons of cargo a day. Without safe truck parking, truckers spend an unnecessary amount of time searching for a place to park — putting truckers and Wyoming drivers at greater risk for accidents,” Lummis said earlier this year.
The Biden administration also has acknowledged benefits associated with expanding parking access for truckers. “When I’m talking to drivers, this is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, issues that I hear about,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told Transport Topics this month. The secretary added, “We’re going to continue supporting the creation of more truck parking.”
Want more news? Listen to today's daily briefing above or go here for more info
Stakeholders praised the parking bill’s approval in committee and pressed for further consideration in Congress. “Truckers are the backbone of the supply chain carrying over 70% of America’s freight, yet there is only one parking spot for every 11 trucks on the road,” Todd Spencer, president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, said. “OOIDA and our 150,000 members thank lawmakers from both parties who came together to advance this critical bill through the committee and we encourage the U.S. Senate to follow their lead by stepping up to address American truckers’ top safety concern.”
Addressing truck parking and other supply chain-centric concerns has garnered bipartisan support over the years on Capitol Hill and across the freight sector. In 2022, the American Transportation Research Institute, or ATRI, ranked inadequate access to parking third on its “Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry.”
