Louisiana and Texas are the latest recipients of a federal grant that aims to increase semi-truck parking capacities.
As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the two states received more than $33 million in funding to create 170 new semi-truck parking spots.
The intersection of SH 130 and SH 180 will be the location for the new Texas trucking plaza construction.
The Texas truck parking plaza will include 20 short-term parking spaces, 100 long-term parking spaces, entry/exit gate control, lighting and fences, a rest stop with restrooms, showers, and other amenities, and 24-hour monitored security.
In Louisiana, the new facility will be near the inland port of Columbia, at the intersection of SH 165 and the Ouachita River.
The Louisiana facility will provide 50 new parking spaces and improve the port’s ability to service barge operations with multimodal freight options.
A U.S. Department of Transportation report found 98% of drivers regularly experience problems finding safe parking.
The same report found the parking shortage exists in every state and region and is most acute along major freight corridors.
70% of drivers are forced into violations of the federal hours-of-service regulations due to extended time trying to find parking.
On average, truck drivers will spend 56 minutes searching for a safe and legal parking spaces.
This amount of time accounts for $5,500 in a direct loss of compensation, which turns out to be about a 12% cut in annual pay.
“A severe shortage of commercial truck parking nationwide is having dire consequences for highway safety and supply chain efficiency. When truck drivers are unable to find safe, authorized parking, they’re stuck in a no-win situation—forced to either park in unsafe or illegal locations, or violate federal hours-of-service rules that regulate their daily drive-time in order to search for safer, legal alternatives,” said the well-known trucking group, the American Trucking Association when asked about the importance of safe truck driver parking.
After the award was announced, Department of Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigeig said that funding for parking was a high priority for the Administration.
