A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Thursday reintroduced legislation that would address the shortage of truck parking across the United States.
U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (R-Illinois) reintroduced the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act in the House Thursday, along with Reps. Angie Craig (D-Minnesota), Pete Stauber (R-Minnesota) and Salud Carbajal (D-California).
Bost noted that the legislation “addresses the dangerous, nationwide shortage in safe, accessible parking spaces for large commercial trucks by providing U.S. Department of Transportation funding on a competitive basis for the construction of new lots and spaces.”
While the text of the reintroduced legislation was not immediately available, previous iterations of the bill would have authorized $755 million in grant funding for parking projects.
“I grew up in a family trucking business,” said Bost. “I know firsthand how difficult, and oftentimes dangerous, it can be when America’s truckers are forced to push that extra mile in search of a safe place to park. 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. This is a matter of public safety for everyone; and I’m committed to do all I can to drive this legislation over the finish line.”
Trucking organizations have long supported efforts to pass the legislation. American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear on Thursday said addressing truck parking is “one of the most meaningful ways Congress can show its support for America’s professional truck drivers. …”The chronic lack of truck parking poses an unacceptable risk to both truckers and the nation’s motoring public. Congress must step in to provide a solution.”
Todd Spencer, President of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, said the “lack of safe truck parking has been a top concern of truckers for decades,” adding that “when truckers don’t have a safe place to park, we are put in a no-win situation. We must either continue to drive while fatigued or out of legal driving time, or park in an undesignated and unsafe location like the side of the road or abandoned lot. It forces truck drivers to make a choice between safety and following federal Hours-of-Service rules.”
This story originally appeared on CCJ Digital.
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