Stakeholders within the trucking industry, led by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), are actively calling upon the U.S. Senate to advance the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act.
On Nov. 6, a coalition of over a dozen organizations, led by OOIDA, jointly dispatched a letter to the leadership of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, emphatically expressing their endorsement of Senate bill S1034, also known as the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act.
The Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, known as HR2367 in the House and S1034 in the Senate, proposes to allocate $755 million over a span of three years for the development of additional parking spaces for trucks. Notably, the bill stipulates that any projects funded by this legislation must offer free and publicly accessible parking, with no provision for paid parking.
The letter underscores the glaring safety concerns facing everyone on the road, due to the inadequate provision of secure truck parking facilities nationwide. It underscores the pressing need to address the issue.
“When truck drivers park in unsafe or unauthorized areas, including highway shoulders and off-ramps, or continue to drive in violation of federal hours-of-service regulations or beyond the point where they feel comfortable because they can’t find parking, it jeopardizes the safety of truck drivers and the general public, leading to congestion, accidents, and other hazardous scenarios,” the letter states.
The coalition further apprised the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the manifold advantages that would accrue from the passage of the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, including enhancement of driver well-being; augmentation of driver recruitment and retention efforts; optimizing the utilization of federal funds; bolstering highway safety measures; spurring economic prosperity; and mitigating roadway congestion issues.
Notably, this correspondence was dispatched a day in advance of the Committee on Environment and Public Works’ scheduled hearing on roadway safety. It is expected that truck parking concerns will be a salient topic of discussion during the hearing.
“Truck drivers are the backbone of our nation’s economy, ensuring the efficient delivery of goods that sustain our everyday lives,” the coalition states in the letter. “The reliability of our supply chain depends on them, and it is imperative that we prioritize their safety and well-being. The Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act represents a crucial step towards achieving this goal.”
To add your voice to this cause, you can visit FightingForTruckers.com and click on the “Tell your Lawmakers to Support the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act” link. By filling out the form, you can have your message automatically sent to your federal lawmakers, advocating for this critical legislation.
Source: Land Line
