Trucking Associations Urge State Governors to Present Truck Parking – Security & Compliance

The American Trucking Associations, via its federation of fifty state associations, referred to as on the governors of each state to prioritize truck parking with their infrastructure spending priorities.

In a letter despatched to each governor, ATA and state trucking associations spelled out the quite a few new assets supplied by the federal authorities, together with new funds from the Infrastructure Funding and Jobs Act, to enhance and broaden truck parking amenities.

Federal Funding Sources

“Development of latest truck parking capability at relaxation areas or adjoining to personal amenities is eligible for funding, as are enhancements that enable for elevated parking capability at nontraditional areas, equivalent to weigh stations and commuter heaps, when acceptable,” the letter mentioned. “Some states have already utilized these assets to extend parking capability or enhance the operational effectivity of present amenities.”

The letter famous accessible funding, citing a memorandum issued by the U.S. Division of Transportation in September 2022. The ATA letter lists examples of funding assets accessible beneath federal-highway support packages, together with:

• Nationwide Freeway Efficiency Program
• Floor Transportation Block Grant Program
• Freeway Security Enchancment Program
• Carbon Discount Program
• Nationwide Freeway Freight Program

The letter additionally famous that transportation companies can apply to USDOT for grants beneath a lot of discretionary packages, together with:

• Nationally Vital Multimodal Freight & Freeway Initiatives Program (AKA INFRA)
• Nationwide Infrastructure Challenge Help (Mega) Program
• Native and Regional Challenge Help Program (AKA RAISE)
• Rural Floor Transportation Grant Program

Additionally, the letter identified to governors that the Division of the Treasury not too long ago confirmed the eligibility of COVD-19 funds awarded to states and native companies for infrastructure initiatives. On this discover, Treasury clarified that state and native authorities companies which have unspent cash from their Coronavirus State and Native Fiscal Restoration Funds (SLFRF) can use a portion of these assets for funding in infrastructure, which may embody truck parking amenities.

Dire Want for Truck Parking Funding

The business has been calling for better funding in truck parking capability, citing security issues that have an effect on the whole motoring public.

A U.S. Division of Transportation report discovered that 98% of truck drivers commonly expertise issues discovering protected parking, usually leaving them with no different possibility however to park in unsafe or unauthorized areas. And 70% of drivers have been compelled to violate federal hours-of-service guidelines due to this frequent state of affairs.

“Truck drivers are the spine of our society and our economic system. With out them, the every day conveniences we take without any consideration—from contemporary water to gasoline to the literal roofs over our heads—wouldn’t exist,” the letter mentioned.

“We urge you to look at the provision of truck parking inside your state and take such actions as are obligatory to make sure that truck drivers have a protected place to sleep when they’re out on the street delivering greater than 70% of America’s freight. We hope you’ll use the aforementioned assets, in addition to different non-Federal assets, to prioritize and deal with this severe security drawback.”