The American Trucking Associations Women In Motion Council is calling on Congress to make truck parking a priority in the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization. Emily Williams, chair of the council, sent letters to leaders of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Members of Women In Motion reported that limited parking makes it harder for women to pursue trucking careers. The committees are responsible for updating the nation’s highway programs before they expire on September 30.
Safety and Convenience for Drivers
“Amenities like lighted parking lots, bathroom access, and on-site security are not simply matters of convenience; they are essential to ensuring women’s safety and wellbeing,” Williams said. “Serious safety implications exist for the broader public as well. When trucks are forced to park in unmarked and unauthorized locations, such as along highway ramps, it creates hazards for truck drivers and motorists alike, contributing to thousands of crashes each year.”
Truck Parking Challenges Impact Earnings
Finding safe parking is more than an inconvenience. Federal data shows that nearly all drivers, 98 percent according to a USDOT study, experience difficulties locating secure spots. Research from the American Transportation Research Institute indicates that drivers lose roughly 56 minutes of drive time each day because of this issue. Over the course of a year, this amounts to about 6,813 dollars in lost wages for the average trucker.
A Critical Need for All Truck Drivers
Truck parking is a basic safety necessity for the nation’s 3.6 million drivers, including hundreds of thousands of women. Williams said secure, well-lit parking spots help drivers rest safely at the end of long shifts. “This is the least we can do for America’s essential workforce,” she added.
Building on Existing Momentum
Women In Motion highlights that recent federal efforts have already addressed truck parking. The 2021 surface transportation bill supported the construction of roughly 2,000 new spaces. Earlier this year, the fiscal year 2026 transportation funding bill allocated additional funds specifically to expand truck parking. Williams encouraged Congress to continue building on this momentum for meaningful long-term investment.
“We urge Congress to build on this momentum by paving the way for meaningful, sustained investments in truck parking in the next surface transportation bill,” Williams said.
