Ohio is about to make a big move to ease one of the most frustrating problems drivers face: safe, long-term parking. Governor Mike DeWine recently announced plans to add 1,400 new truck parking spaces across 33 locations in 18 counties, all on state-owned property.
“By expanding safe, accessible places for drivers to rest, we’re supporting the people who keep our economy moving and making it safer for everyone on our roads,” DeWine remarked.
“As Ohio’s economy continues to grow, so does the number of trucks traveling on Ohio’s network of interstates and state routes.”
This effort was unveiled alongside Pamela Boratyn, Director of ODOT, and backed by the Ohio Trucking Association.
“This initiative addresses a chronic, nationwide issue,” OHTA CEO Thomas Balzer emphasized.
“A recent survey found that 98% of commercial drivers struggle to find safe parking, with 70% admitting to violating hours-of-service regulations in search of a spot. This puts everyone on the road at risk. We applaud Gov. DeWine’s commitment to improving driver safety and freight mobility in Ohio.”
Each new rest area will have security lighting and restroom facilities. Construction is slated to begin next year and finish by the end of 2027.
“Once complete, the American Transportation Research Institute projects that Ohio will lead the nation in the total number of long-term truck parking spaces available on state-owned property,” according to the Governor’s office.
Why This Matters to Drivers
- From 2015 to 2019, Ohio recorded 106 crashes involving improperly parked trucks, resulting in 5 deaths, 11 serious injuries, and 36 minor injuries—mainly around urban centers like Cleveland, Cincinnati, Akron, and Columbus.
- During just four months, GPS data revealed over 100 clusters where drivers parked off-designation—at rest areas, ramps, last-mile roads, and near truck stops.
The ODOT Truck Parking Study states:
“From 2015 to 2019, over 460 truck crashes happened due to fatigued driving, leading to six deaths, 50 serious injuries, and more than 400 minor or possible injuries.”
Ohio currently offers around 14,200 public truck parking spaces across 98 locations, with just 16 spots each. Over half are along the Ohio Turnpike; the rest are at private truck stops or businesses.
“Ohio’s new truck parking plan is a major step forward in improving safety for truck drivers and everyone on the road,” Boratyn said.
“These projects will make our state a national leader in total truck parking capacity — setting the standard for safety and service.”
The project is supported by a $150 million allocation in Ohio’s transportation budget this year.
Bigger Picture
Ohio handles over 1 billion tons of freight annually, valued at around $1.2 trillion, with trucking mileage topping 27.5 million miles in 2023. With freight volume expected to climb 26% by 2045, the demand for safe parking isn’t just growing, it’s urgent.
Source: Transport Topics
