Progress on Truck Parking Legislation and other Pro-Trucking Policies

Trucking in the United States is facing some real challenges as of late. A chronic and pervasive lack of adequate truck parking from coast to coast. Record-high diesel prices. Shortages of mission-critical truck parts. A shortage of experienced drivers and concerns that trucker wages aren’t keeping pace with inflation.

With that in mind, here is a progress update on some key truck parking legislation being made in D.C. and their results that could impact the trucking business:

Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act Update

In March of this year, the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act (TPSIA) was reintroduced to Congress. Fleet Parking is following this legislation as it has some important ramifications for truckers and fleet managers as well as the trucking industry as a whole. It represents a meaningful legislative response by Washington to the very serious parking challenges facing truckers in our country. 

Why it took this long, we aren’t sure. Maybe all the buzz generated by supply chain issues during the pandemic brought the nation’s trucking industry into greater focus. Whatever the reason may be, truckers and fleet managers and the companies that rely on them are grateful for the attention and patiently awaiting the follow through. 

While the legislation continued to make its way through Congress, funds from the Department of Transportation’s RAISE discretionary grant program are finally beginning to reach critical infrastructure projects. That includes $28 million allocated for truck and tractor trailer parking projects. Additional parking for trucks in Florida and Tennessee is also moving forward, funded by part of an earlier $40 million DOT grant. So, in spite of the slow movement of the TPSIA legislation, we can say that some headway is being made. 

More Truck Parking Coming to Louisiana, Texas and Michigan

In addition to the $40 million in RAISE grants going towards truck parking projects in Florida and Tennessee, a recently announced $28 million grant is earmarked for three promising truck parking projects. The first $10.5 million goes to a 50-truck parking facility off State Highway 165, near the Inland Port of Columbia on Louisiana’s Ouachita River. 

An additional $9 million worth of these DOT RAISE grants will build a parking plaza at the intersection of State Highway 130 and the San Marcos Highway/State Highway 80 in Texas that will offer 20 short-term and 100 long-term parking places for trucks, along with a rest stop with showers and other amenities for truckers. Finally, there is $8.5 million set aside for the Michigan “Truck Stop of the Future” project which will include EV fast charging stations for Class 1-8 vehicles and solar panel canopies. 

Opposition to NYC Congestion Pricing That Could Hit Truckers with Tolls as High as $86

Trucking in New York City is not for the faint of heart for a dozen different reasons. Truck parking within Manhattan proper is practically non-existent. Traffic, tight corners, tight side streets and double parkers only add to the mayhem. Now NYC is pressing for zone tolls on trucks coming through Manhattan below 60th Street. The tolls, set to begin in Spring 2024 could hit large trucks with tolls ranging from $12-86.

Just when the price of fuel is already pushing the cost of moving freight via truck even higher. The good news is that Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY) has already introduced a resolution opposing the new toll plan. Rep D’Esposito’s resolution has strong bipartisan support and, of course, the backing of the pro-trucking lobby in Washington including the American Trucking Associations. 

The Challenge of Truck Parking in America

The shortage of truck and tractor trailer parking in the U.S. is a complex problem without a seemingly simple solution. There is no “silver bullet” for this. We at Fleet Parking think that a combination of private industry innovations, like our secure lots that offer additional services such as CNG fueling and EV charging, combined with funding and proactive federal truck parking legislation are just the one-two punch this situation calls for.  

But, we also know that there is only so much the federal government can do to solve this problem and when it comes down to it, the people in the field always have a better understanding of the issue than the folks in Washington. That’s why Fleet Parking will continue to deliver the most comprehensive truck parking services in New Jersey. We have secure, well-lit truck and tractor trailer parking lots in NJ with 24/7 monitoring, of course, but we also offer vehicle transport services and much more. 

Call us today at 201-926-2376 to learn more about our various truck parking locations and services