Our truck drivers need more parking places
Most of us take for granted being able to stop, eat and stretch our legs during the work day. The truck drivers we depend on to keep our economy moving can’t, because they often can’t find a safe and legal place to park.
At peak hours, 103% of Pennsylvania’s truck parking spaces are full, and the interstates around Pittsburgh are among the most problematic in the state. Strict federal rules require truck drivers to stop at regular intervals.
When they can’t find a safe and convenient location to pull over and rest, drivers are put in the difficult position of having to park illegally on the side of the road or continue driving in violation of federal regulations. Both options not only jeopardize the truck driver’s well-being but also endanger other motorists on the road.
The driver shortage
The Keystone State is a bustling hub of transportation, located within a day’s drive of almost 40% of U.S. residents. The trucking industry represents one in every 15 jobs in Pennsylvania, with more than 88,000 heavy truck drivers calling the state home. Thousands more traverse its highways daily, subject to the same regulation.
Trucks and their drivers play an indispensable role in Pennsylvania’s economy, transporting essential goods between farms, factories, stores, and consumers every day.
The lack of safe and legal parking spaces for trucks contributes to truck driver frustration and exacerbates the shortage of drivers nationwide, estimated in 2022 to be around 78,000. This is especially true for women drivers, who place a high value on safe and accessible parking facilities.
Drivers waste an average of almost an hour every day searching for parking spots. That results in about $5,500 less pay for each driver every year.
Moreover, inadequate truck parking infrastructure also undermines state and regional economic development efforts, contributes to traffic bottlenecks, and hinders efficient supply chain operations.
A pressing need
The need for adequate truck parking has never been more pressing. A recent study conducted by PennDOT’s Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) sheds light on the critical shortage of truck parking spaces and underscores the urgency of finding solutions.
The TAC study demonstrates that creating the necessary parking will require the cooperation of the trucking industry, shippers and receivers, developers, local and regional planning organizations, and citizens across the state.
PennDOT must leverage its resources to drive collaborative solutions. The TAC study represents a significant step forward by identifying the areas of the state most in need of truck parking and providing a framework for identifying the best locations. Most importantly, it also proposes nineteen practical steps for stakeholders to work together to solve the problem.
Right now, a PennDOT task force is evaluating opportunities for federal grants and public-private partnerships, surveying opportunities for truck parking throughout its districts, and reaching out to planning partners. Truck parking must be part of economic development planning efforts moving forward.
Pa. must invest in parking
Shippers need to evaluate the role they can play to drive solutions, including exploring opportunities to develop shared parking areas where industrial and warehousing facilities operate nearby one another. At the state level, PennDOT should develop a Pennsylvania Truck Parking Handbook to help planners and communities understand best practices, including model ordinances and other available resources.
Truck drivers are crucial to our economy, and they deserve safe and accessible places to rest and recharge. By investing in robust truck parking infrastructure, we not only support the men and women who keep our supply chains moving, but also bolster Pennsylvania’s position as a premier transportation and economic hub.