Truckers Applaud Virginia Program Creating More Driver Rest Stops

This story appears in the Nov. 15 print edition of Transport Topics.

The trucking industry applauded an announcement by Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) that he has launched a pilot program to use undeveloped, state-owned property alongside highways as rest areas for truck drivers.

“If the pilot is successful, this will be an inexpensive way to help prevent driver fatigue and improve safety on Virginia’s highways,” said Dale Bennett, president of the Virginia Trucking Association.

“We are very appreciative of Gov. McDonnell for continuing to recognize the essential role of America’s trucking industry and for his commitment to highway safety on the important issue of safety rest areas,” said Bill Graves, president of American Trucking Associations.

McDonnell made the announcement on Nov. 4. The first site, located along Interstate 66 in Warren County, opened to truckers on Nov. 8.

“Pending the results of this pilot, additional truck parking facilities will be considered on or near other interstates,” McDonnell said.

The new parking area is located between Strasburg and Front Royal in a paved, unused lot along the interstate’s eastbound lanes. VDOT officials said the lot can accommodate 25 to 30 trucks.

In his announcement, McDonnell said the state Department of Transportation purchased the land decades ago for a rest stop that was never built.

The pilot program will run 90 days, followed by a 60-day evaluation period, McDonnell said.

The rest area will remain open during the evaluation period.

Electronic message boards in the area will alert the public to the rest area. Signs have been installed at the site, along with portable toilets and trash receptacles, but there is no building, McDonnell said.

“It is important that this pilot program confirms the feasibility of this effort, and we remind all truck drivers to be professionals and do their part to keep these areas safe and clean,” Bennett said.

ATA encourages other states with truck parking shortages, Graves said, “to follow Virginia’s lead and look for similar opportunities to quickly expand parking at a minimal cost.”

Like several other states that lost much revenue after the economy collapsed, Virginia closed highway rest areas to cut costs.

Most recently, New York state announced it was closing six rest areas beginning this month. Arizona closed 13 rest stops last year but, after public protest, reopened them in stages this year.

As the rest areas closed, truckers strongly objected, citing federal hours-of-service regulations.

In Virginia, the closures became an issue in the 2009 gubernatorial campaign. McDonnell vowed that, if elected, he would reopen the rest areas.

After he was elected in 2009, he reopened the rest areas this year and, at the urging of truckers, said he would try to increase the number of spaces available in the state.

“To ensure they drive safely, truckers need secure places to park and rest,” McDonnell said in his announcement.

“Anyone who has passed our full-service rest areas at night or the early morning can see that many are filled to capacity with trucks,” he said.

The Warren County sheriff’s office and the Virginia State Police will monitor the I-66 truck rest area, McDonnell said.