It probably is safe to say that most drivers have felt the frustration of searching for a parking spot in a crowded lot, circling endlessly until a space finally becomes available. Now imagine that frustration amplified—you're on a tight schedule, required to park, but there are no open spaces and ten other people are already waiting ahead of you.
This is similar to what commercial truck drivers across the United States regularly experience. Federal law limits the time truck drivers can be on the road, requiring them to stop and rest. However, safe parking places are scarce: according to industry estimates, there is only one parking place for every eleven trucks on the road, causing drivers to waste, on average, an hour a day looking for a place to park. That is frustrating. This not only costs drivers thousands in lost wages annually, but it also forces them to park in unsafe locations (for example, highway shoulders or exit ramps) or drive beyond their federally mandated hours-of-service limits, creating risks for both truckers and other motorists.
Lawmakers have been trying to address this problem for several years, with various forms of legislation being introduced as early as the 2020 session. The current legislation, known as the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, commonly referred to as the “Truck Parking Bill,” was introduced in 2023 as a bipartisan legislative effort specifically aimed at addressing the chronic shortage of safe and accessible parking for commercial truck drivers. The 2023 bill did not succeed and was reintroduced in February 2025.
What it is
The bill seeks to improve highway safety and supply chain efficiency by increasing the availability of parking spaces for truck drivers through the creation of a dedicated funding source for parking projects. It proposes allocation of $755 million in competitive grants over multiple years, to be distributed through the U.S. Department of Transportation (“USDOT”) using existing highway funding sources, so as not to require new spending.
The grants would support several means of addressing the parking shortage:
Construction of new truck parking facilities, including at rest areas, weigh stations, or near commercial truck stops and freight facilities.
Expansion or improvement of existing parking spaces.
Conversion of underutilized public infrastructure into truck parking locations, such as closed rest areas or inspection stations
Key Requirements
The USDOT grants must be used for projects on (or with access to) federal-aid highways or a freight facility. Additionally, there are eligibility requirements for entities to receive a grant for a parking project, including:
Evidence that there is a shortage of commercial motor vehicle parking capacity in the corridor in which the project is located, with priority given to rural corridors and areas with demonstrated safety needs;
The entity has consulted with motor carriers, commercial motor vehicle drivers, public safety officials, and private providers of commercial motor vehicle parking regarding the project;
The project likely will increase the availability or utilization of commercial motor vehicle parking, facilitate the efficient movement of freight, or improve highway safety, traffic congestion, and air quality; and,
The entity has demonstrated the ability to provide for the maintenance and operation of the facility. Additionally, projects funded under the bill cannot charge truck drivers fees to park, ensuring accessibility.
Why It Matters
The trucking industry moves over 73% of U.S. freight, making it vital to the US economy, and the parking crisis is a top concern. “Truck drivers keep our nation's supply chains moving, and they should never be forced to forgo much-needed rest because of insufficient highway parking.” The lack of spaces impacts driver safety, compliance with federal rest rules, and supply chain efficiency. Advocates, including the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and OOIDA, believe it is a common-sense fix to a decades-old problem, with broad industry support pushing for its passage.
Legislative Tracking
After the bill was introduced in 2023, it received approval from and underwent revisions by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, but was never submitted to a full congressional vote; thus, there was no further activity. And, despite several reintroductions in the past few years, the bill has not passed. Currently, the 2025 bill (H.R. 1659) has been referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and a Senate companion bill is expected but has not been introduced yet. It remains a work in progress, with passage depending on congressional action in the current session.
If you have questions about this article, or about trucking and transportation issues in general, please contact Denise Reverski (dreverski@setlifflaw.com) at (804) 377-1272 or Steve Setliff (ssetliff@setlifflaw.com) at (804) 377-1261.
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