WIT Supports Trump Administration’s Truck Parking Program

Trucking is the backbone of America’s supply chain, with professional drivers keeping goods flowing to communities, businesses, and families nationwide. Yet, a persistent and growing issue continues to hinder the safety and efficiency of the industry: the shortage of safe, accessible, and adequate commercial truck parking.

For professional truck drivers, the lack of parking is more than just an inconvenience—it’s a matter of safety, compliance, and well-being. Drivers must adhere to Hours of Service (HOS) regulations, requiring them to rest at specific intervals. Without reliable parking options, drivers are often forced to choose between violating federal safety rules or parking in unsafe, unauthorized areas.

While Congress debates legislation to fund new parking infrastructure, recent support from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Trump Administration marks a significant and welcomed investment in the nation’s truck parking capacity. These efforts signal a broader recognition of the issue’s importance and a move toward addressing a long-overlooked need.

Trump Administration Announces $275 Truck Parking Program, Slashes Rules

In particular, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on June 27 announced a $275 million grant program to expand truck parking and prune regulations, billing the moves as the first wave of President Donald Trump’s trucking-reform order.

“Truckers keep America running,” Duffy recently said. “While the country sleeps, truckers grind through the night to help keep shelves stocked, families fed and businesses humming. It’s a job that requires grit and dedication. But for too long, Washington, D.C., has made work harder for truckers. That ends today. Thanks to President Trump, we’re getting Washington out of your trucks and your business.”

The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has long advocated for increased investment in truck parking, recognizing its critical role in creating a safe and secure environment for all drivers—particularly for women, whose concerns about personal safety while parked are especially heightened. WIT quickly applauded the recent announcement by Duffy. 

“Truck parking remains a critical need for all drivers who are moving freight necessary to keep America running and thriving across industry, communities, and families,” said Jennifer Hedrick, CAE, WIT President and CEO. “Funding for truck parking is a constructive step forward toward ensuring freight can be moved in a timely way and that drivers can do their jobs in the safest way possible.”

Recently WIT published a Resource Guide on Assessing and Addressing the Lack of Truck Parking – which includes relevant information and solutions to address the issue. Download your free copy here. 

Details on the Truck Parking Program


The initiative answers Trump’s “Executive Order on Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America’s Truck Drivers,” which directs federal agencies to shed what the White House calls “one-size-fits-all” mandates and fix a parking shortage long blamed for lost time and safety risks.

Of the total funding, $180 million is earmarked for Florida to build 917 spaces along Interstate 4 in Volusia, Seminole and Osceola counties. Florida Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue said the money would “help deliver nearly 1,000 additional truck parking spaces to serve Central Florida communities.”

The remaining $95 million will be available nationwide through discretionary grant rounds opening later in 2025.

DOT figures show 40% of drivers spend at least an hour a day hunting legal parking, time the agency says costs the national economy billions of dollars and forces truckers onto highway shoulders or retail lots. Trucking employs about 8.5 million Americans and moves almost three-quarters of the nation’s freight by weight, according to industry analysts.

The parking grants and regulatory rollbacks follow Duffy’s May directive ordering stricter enforcement of federal English-proficiency requirements for commercial drivers.

Conclusion

While recent developments are encouraging, WIT and other industry leaders stress that much more work is needed. WIT continues to offer its full support to the USDOT, Congress, and industry stakeholders working to expand parking infrastructure and improve working conditions for drivers. Solving the truck parking crisis is essential—not only for driver safety and compliance but for the continued strength and reliability of America’s supply chain.

Related Articles:

• Washington Update: Key Areas that Impact Women In Trucking
• No Truck Parking: A National Safety Concern
  
• We’ve Got A National Truck Parking Crisis. Now What?
  
• Top Trucking Concerns: The Economy, Truck Parking, BEVs
  
• Park It: Lack of Trucking Parking Causes Major Headaches for Drivers

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