One of the most prominent issues owner-operators and company drivers face today is finding a safe place to park—a bill introduced in the Senate on December 1st in hopes to help alleviate some of this problem.
The Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act looks to supply 755 million dollars in competitive grants to help expand truck parking nationwide. Most owner-operators and company drivers have sometimes experienced difficulties finding parking spots throughout their careers, and when spots become available, it can lead to many other issues.
Issues from owner-operators and company drivers violating their hours of service because they are trying to find a safe place to park to parking along the side of the road or on off-ramps. When all other options have been exhausted, drivers may resort to parking illegally to find a spot to shut down, which can threaten their job security. Some carriers, such as Landstar, have rules that require owner-operators to park in approved locations, and if a driver does park on an off-ramp, their contract will be canceled.
In addition to the safety and job security problems, not finding a parking spot quickly can result in a loss of revenue for owner-operators and company drivers. Some drivers may have to shut down early and not run their entire route to find a parking spot. With all states facing issues with commercial truck parking, many believe that expanding and improving the situation can make the highways safer for everyone.