The Midwest Commercial Vehicle Safety Summit takes place December 16 and 17 at the Loews Kansas City Hotel. Attendance is free, and organizers want to see a stronger turnout from the men and women behind the wheel.

Why Drivers Are Being Asked to Attend

Past summits have attracted large groups of government officials, law enforcement agencies, university researchers, and insurance representatives. What they have not had is a strong group of working truck drivers sharing real on-the-road experiences.

OOIDA hopes to change that in 2025. Executive Vice President Lewie Pugh says drivers need to be part of the conversations shaping future regulations.

“If you can attend, please come,” Pugh said. “This is a chance for you to listen, ask questions, and give input to DOT and others about the things that need to be done to truly improve highway safety. There is no one more knowledgeable about this topic than the nation’s professional drivers. There are plenty of decision-makers who care about highway safety, but they aren’t always sure about the right approach to take. That’s why the men and women who make their living on the interstate need to point them in the right direction. I can assure you that there will be plenty of safety advocates and others in attendance who will be telling them a much different story about what must be done to improve safety.”

Registration Details

Registration is free and must be completed by the end of the day on Wednesday, December 10. Drivers who want a voice in upcoming safety decisions can secure a spot through the event’s registration page.

What Drivers Can Expect at the Summit

The summit begins at 8:30 a.m. on December 16. FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs and FMCSA Regional Field Administrator Winsome Lenfert are scheduled to open the event.

Across two days, drivers will have access to multiple breakout sessions focused on safety challenges affecting the industry. Topics include:

• Truck Leasing Task Force
• Technology improvements for CMV safety
• Drug and alcohol prevention
• Crash research
• Market shifts and the trucking economy
• Automation
• Speed prevention strategies
• Human trafficking prevention
• Cargo theft and freight fraud
• The impact of ELDs

OOIDA will be active in several discussions throughout the summit.

OOIDA President Todd Spencer will speak during a session titled “Truck Leasing Task Force: Findings, Impacts and Next Steps” from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on December 16. Spencer will join Steve Viscelli and Steve Rush to talk about how predatory lease-purchase setups can affect safety.

Later that afternoon, OOIDA Foundation Director Andrew King will participate in “Economic Signals, Freight Flows and Safety Outcomes” alongside Mat Leo from C.H. Robinson. The session runs from 3 to 4 p.m. and covers how economic pressure influences safety decisions.

On December 17 at 10:30 a.m., Pugh will sit on another panel with FMCSA officials for a session titled “Fighting Back: Cargo Theft and Fraud in the Freight Supply Chain.” Pugh will address how freight fraud harms small trucking businesses, while FMCSA’s Ken Riddle and others will outline the agency’s actions to combat it.

A full agenda is available here for anyone planning to attend.

Why This Matters for Drivers

Drivers are the ones dealing with real-world conditions every day. When you attend and share your perspective, you help ensure that future safety policies reflect actual road experience rather than assumptions. The summit gives drivers a rare chance to guide discussions that may influence regulations for years to come.

Source: Land Line Media

The post Truck Drivers Encouraged to Attend Kansas City Safety Summit This December appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

According to WisDOT, “We’ve opened a survey for drivers and companies to help them tell us where truck parking is at its worst in Wisconsin, where they would like it improved, and what other considerations WisDOT should have for truck parking facilities.” The agency says the goal is simple — get real feedback from the people behind the wheel so it can pinpoint problem areas and build solutions that match the industry’s needs.

What Drivers Should Know About the Survey

WisDOT explains that “By completing this survey, your responses will inform the department on where you believe additional truck parking capacity and other improvements are needed in the state of Wisconsin.” Drivers don’t need to worry about their personal information being shared — the survey is fully anonymous and takes about 12 minutes to complete. If a driver wants to skip questions or wrap up early, they can scroll down and submit at any time.

The survey remains open through January 19, 2026, and the results will be used in a broader statewide study looking at long-term truck parking needs.

One thing WisDOT stresses is safety: “Your safety is the most important priority. Please do not attempt to complete this survey while driving.”

Why This Matters for Drivers

Wisconsin sits at the crossroads of major freight routes, and drivers know how fast safe parking can disappear once evening hits. More accurate data, especially from those who experience the daily shortage firsthand, can help the state plan new capacity, improve existing sites, and possibly ease some of the stress that comes with searching for a legal spot.

Drivers who want to participate can complete the survey here.

Source: The Trucker

The post Wisconsin Asks Truck Drivers to Speak Up About Parking Shortages appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

MoDOT’s Freight Plan and the Focus on Truck Parking

MoDOT is currently revisiting its State Freight and Rail Plan, described by Levi Woods, administrator of freight and waterways, as a “strategic document that outlines the visions, goals and priorities of Missouri’s freight and passenger rail systems.” This comprehensive plan covers a variety of transportation sectors, including trucks, rail, air, and waterways.

An essential aspect of this plan is truck parking, which MoDOT acknowledges as a critical element for transportation safety. Missouri’s previous 2022 plan included an extensive 106-page truck parking profile, which was created with significant input from truck drivers.

“Who’s better to ask than the folks using the system themselves?” Woods explained. “We want to hear from the experts, the people in there doing it day in, day out.”

Truck Drivers’ Voices Needed in Updated Parking Analysis

To ensure the new plan effectively addresses truck parking challenges, MoDOT is collecting data through an updated truck parking analysis. The revised analysis will include a fresh parking survey designed for truck drivers, gathering feedback on their experiences and identifying areas where improvements are most needed.

Truckers have until March 16 to complete the survey, which can be accessed here or by scanning the QR code provided below. The survey is mobile-friendly, takes under 10 minutes to complete, and guarantees confidentiality.

Drivers will answer questions covering topics such as preferred parking amenities and locations where additional parking is required.

The more responses MoDOT receives, the more comprehensive and effective the planning process can be. However, participation has historically been low—during the 2022 analysis, MoDOT sent nearly 8,000 emails to Missouri-based truck drivers, but only 16 completed the survey in full.

“I know these folks get inundated with surveys all the time, but this information really is valuable to us in making the best decisions going forward possible to help them and again, to keep everyone safe,” Woods emphasized.

Focused Efforts on Interstate 70 and Beyond

Feedback from the survey could help guide the expansion of truck parking options, particularly along Interstate 70, a key artery for freight movement in Missouri. Other areas may also see improvements if truck drivers highlight recurring parking challenges in those regions.

Federal funding could play a significant role in these initiatives. MoDOT’s website explains that freight and rail plans are tied to federal grants, which can include funding for truck parking improvements.

Additionally, nationwide efforts to address truck parking shortages are underway. On February 27, Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., reintroduced the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, which aims to allocate $755 million toward parking expansion across the country.

Source: Land Line

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