With a lack of truck parking across the nation, Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has taken action and created an informational webpage detailing how to best educate lawmakers and government officials on this important issue in order to increase available spots. The data provided reveals a concerning reality – with only one parking spot for every eleven trucks currently found on U.S. roads, it is clear that more needs to be done.
As per federal law, commercial vehicle operators have a limited time for being on the road – much of that time goes unused because reliable truck parking spots are sparse and hard to come by. To increase pressure from stakeholders, OOIDA has made it easy for them to voice their support through THIS SITE LINK which allows users to directly contact lawmakers about co-sponsoring the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act.
On March 29, U.S. Sens. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and U.S. Reps. Mike Bost, R-Ill., and Angie Craig, D-Minn., introduced the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act.
HR2367 and S1034, if passed into law, would allocate $755 million to fund projects that provide free access to parking without any paid spots or reservations in order to ease congestion for all drivers over the next three years.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has expressed strong support for the newly proposed Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act.
“Most folks probably don’t realize that 70% of American freight is transported by truck, yet incredibly there is only one parking spot for every 11 trucks on the road,” OOIDA President Todd Spencer said in a statement. “When truck drivers don’t have a designated place to park, they end up parking on the side of the road, near exit ramps, or elsewhere. This isn’t safe for the driver, and it’s not safe for others on the road.
Four members of Congress – Sen. Lummis, Sen. Kelly, Rep. Bost and Rep. Craig – are paving the way for improved road safety after listening to the needs of truckers nationwide to expand parking availability on our highways and interstates.
As of April 18, HR2367 has acquired 13 co-sponsors:
- Brian Babin, R-Texas
- Angie Craig, D-Minn.
- Eric Crawford, R-Ark.
- John Garamendi, D-Calif.
- Lance Gooden, R-Texas
- Dusty Johnson, R-S.D.
- Nancy Mace, R-S.C.
- Daniel Meuser, R-Pa.
- Troy Nehls, R-Texas
- Katie Porter, D-Calif.
- Pete Stauber, R-Minn.
- Eric Swalwell, D-Calif.
- Dina Titus, D-Nev.
S1034 currently has four co-sponsors:
- John Boozman, R-Ark.
- Kevin Cramer, R-N.D.
- Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.
- Jon Tester, D-Mont.
If you don’t see your representative or senator on the list, you can contact them at FightingForTruckers.com.
Source: Land Line
