Trucking Lab

Truck parking data and tools for planning

Driver needs

What truck drivers really want in parking

There is not enough truck parking, and the shortage hurts safety and the supply chain. Here is what 3.5 million drivers say they need, and what it means for policy.

1 in 11One parking space for every 11 trucks2
98%Drivers who struggle to find safe parking3
88%Drivers who have felt unsafe while parked5

Key takeaways for planners

Five things drivers need

  • Numbers1 space per 11 trucks. 98% of drivers struggle to find safe parking.
  • Safety88% have felt unsafe. Drivers want lighting, fencing, cameras, and clean restrooms.9
  • Parking paradox58% will not use paid lots. They lose $5,600 a year hunting for free spots.
  • TechnologyParking information needs 85%+ reliability.1 Tech manages spaces but does not add them.
  • Location66% rank location first. A lot 20 miles off the corridor goes unused.

01

Availability and safety

There is 1 space for every 11 trucks.2 98% of drivers struggle to find safe parking.3 The search costs 56 minutes a day, or about $5,600 a year in lost wages.4

88% have felt unsafe while parked.5 Lighting, fences, cameras, and patrols matter most, especially for women drivers.

Policy implication

Add capacity first, then upgrade. Federal funds help, but states and P3s have to close the gap.

02

The parking paradox

58% of drivers do not use paid lots,6 and 86% are not reimbursed.6

Circling for a free spot costs $30 to $100 a day. A paid lot costs about $18.

Drivers take the bigger loss to avoid the direct cost. The cause is tight cash flow and no carrier support. Once a lot goes paid, only 16 to 28% will pay. If fees apply, they want showers, power, internet, and exercise space, in that order.7 Some will pay for safe parking and services they actually need.9

Policy implication

  • More paid lots alone will not work.
  • Encourage shippers and carriers to cover parking.
  • Add basics worth paying for: hot food, clean showers.

03

Technology helps, but adds no spaces

Technology cannot add a space, but it can fill the ones we have.

Public parking information systems need at least 85% reliability before drivers trust them.1

Policy implication

Fund reliable TPIMS inside the apps drivers already use. That means sensors at rest areas and data sharing with truck stops.

04

Parking for humans, not just trucks

Once parked, drivers need basic facilities.

NCHRP Report 1175 (2026) puts it simply: clean restrooms, good lighting, a sense of security. A simple staging or rest area works without a full truck stop.9

Policy implication

A lot with Wi-Fi but no clean restroom is a failure. Fund the basics first.

Most wanted amenities8

Share of drivers naming each one.

  • Abundant truck parking86%
  • Clean showers67.5%
  • On-site restaurant / hot food47%
  • Healthy / fresh food41%
  • 24/7 truck maintenance29%
  • High-speed diesel pumps27%
  • Wi-Fi22%
  • Laundry20%
  • Driver lounge15%
  • Pet-friendly facilities13.5%

Long-haul drivers have higher rates of obesity (26.6% vs 19.9%), diabetes (5.1% vs 4.2%), and heart disease (3.6% vs 2.4%). Healthy food, exercise, and medical access at truck stops are a safety issue, not a convenience.7

05

Location decides whether a lot gets used

A lot 20 miles off a freight corridor goes unused. Shortages are worst near cities, logistics hubs, and ports.

66% of drivers rank location as a top factor.6 Paid lots fail when built on cheap land far from demand.

Policy implication

  • Rezone industrial land near freight hubs for truck parking.
  • Reuse closed weigh stations and park-and-rides. Ohio is adding 1,400 spaces this way.
  • Ask shippers and receivers to provide staging and restrooms for visiting drivers.9

Sources

  1. Minnesota DOT, A Comprehensive System for Assessing Truck Parking Availability (2017).
  2. American Transportation Research Institute & AASHTO, ATRI-AASHTO National Truck Parking Report (2023).
  3. FHWA, Jason’s Law Truck Parking Survey Results (2015).
  4. Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland Statewide Truck Parking Study (2022).
  5. UMass Transportation Center, The Impact of Driver Fatigue and Parking Shortages on CMV Safety (blog).
  6. Land Line Media, Truckers are not using paid parking, calling it ‘ridiculous’ (2023).
  7. Krasniuk et al., Improving truck stop environments to support long-haul truck driver safety and health: A scoping review, Transportation Research Part A, 185, 104123 (2024).
  8. Hyfield Trucking, Survey Reveals Truckers’ Most Desired Amenities at Truck Stops (2024).
  9. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Developing a Guide for Local Truck Parking Regulations, NCHRP Research Report 1175 (2026), pp. 50 to 53. Driver interview findings; recruitment described on p. 42.

Related research

Authored, reviewed, and approved by Troy Choi, Ph.D., P.E. Transportation Systems Optimization and Engineering Research.

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