How Truck Parking Shortages Pose a Danger for Everyone

When you go on road trips or drive late at night to reach a destination, you may choose to pull into a hotel to find somewhere to park and sleep for the night. But have you ever passed a truck stop at night, saw that every spot was full, and wondered what happens to truckers that can’t find somewhere to stop and rest? Have you considered how it can affect you if truckers have nowhere to park for the night?

While it may be easy for those driving personal vehicles to find a place to park and sleep after a long day of driving, that is not always the case for truck drivers. Currently, truckers are facing a national truck parking shortage that makes it difficult for them to find safe and legal places to park. In fact, 98% of truck drivers face issues searching for safe parking.

For many truck drivers, they are forced to cope with this shortage in other ways; but those methods can create safety issues for everyone on the roads.

Safety Issues Caused by Illegal Truck Parking Alternatives

Truck drivers often make the choice to either continue driving or park in unconventional places when they do not have access to safe and legal parking. But these choices can result in safety risks for their fellow drivers.

If a truck driver is struggling to find parking and decides to continue driving until they can find a suitable rest area, they may be in violation of their hours-of-service regulations. These rules are in place to ensure truckers are taking breaks to rest after driving for an extended period, which prevents drowsy driving. However, when there is nowhere to stop and rest, some drivers feel they have no choice but to push onward, even if they are feeling tired behind the wheel.

The choice to drive while fatigued creates a danger for everyone on the roads. Drowsy driving is a major safety risk, with fatigued driver crashes resulting in 633 deaths in 2023 and 13% of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) crashes caused by drivers that were considered fatigued at the time. Driving in this state makes it difficult to be fully alert and aware of the road and vehicles around you, which can lead to devastating truck wrecks. Ultimately, when truckers are unable to find parking and continue driving beyond what is allowed within hours-of-service regulations, it puts everyone on the roads at risk of being involved in a tragic semi wreck.

On the other hand, truck drivers may choose to find their own parking solution instead of continuing to search for a rest stop with available space. Oftentimes the place they decide to park their vehicle is an area where it is unsafe to do so. Some common areas where truckers choose to park include road shoulders, side streets, and highway entrance and exit ramps.

While parking in these spots may seem alright because they are not considered to be in the direct path of other drivers, they still create safety concerns. Parking in each of these locations leads to a higher chance of other vehicles colliding with the dormant semi-trucks, especially considering trucks are typically parked in these spots at night with all the truck’s lights off. And when CMVs are parked on shoulders and ramps, they are in potentially high traffic areas where other vehicles may be accelerating and not expecting a stopped truck, which can also cause collisions.

What Options Are Currently Available for Truckers?

Overall, parking in locations that are not designated for trucks leads to safety concerns for everyone on the roads. But truck drivers still need a place to stop and rest. So, what alternatives do truckers have?

For many truck drivers, it may be beneficial to plan their route ahead of time with specific rest stops in mind to prevent scrambling to find somewhere to park before violating hours-of-service regulations. Some apps, like Love’s Connect or MyPilot, provide drivers with real-time parking availability, as well as the ability to reserve a parking spot for a small fee.

Another option is the use of Truck Parking Club, a company that works with private property owners to monetize land for truck parking. This option provides drivers with a reliable backup when traditional rest stops are full.

Injured After a Truck Wreck? Craig, Kelley & Faultless Can Help

Attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless are prepared and have the experience to help victims and their loved ones involved in commercial vehicle wrecks through every aspect of their case. Both attorneys David W. Craig and Scott A. Faultless are board-certified in truck accident law by the NBTA, accredited by the American Bar Association. The firm also has a rapid response team that works with investigators, reconstructionists and mechanics who immediately collect evidence as soon as the firm is hired. Additionally, two of the firm’s litigation paralegals are board-certified in truck accident law by the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys. As David has said, “We don’t just handle truck accident cases. We specialize in these cases.”

Their team-centered approach puts client needs at the forefront, and several attorneys will work on your case to achieve the best possible outcome.

Reach out for a free case consultation today at (888) 253-5198 or online.

David W. Craig is board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, accredited by the American Bar Association in Truck Accident Law. He sits on the Board of Regents of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (which requires the board certification in truck accident law). He is the managing partner and one of the founding partners of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. He is recognized as a Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyer and Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Indiana by the National Trial Lawyers, as well as a Top 50 Indiana lawyer by Super Lawyers. David is the author of Semitruck Wreck, A Guide for Victims and Their Families and It’s Never Been Easier to Hire the Wrong Attorney, both written to help people navigate what comes next after a tragic wreck. He also hosts the podcast After the Crash, where you can gain valuable information about the dangers involving semis and large trucks that do not follow safety protocol regarding speed, weather conditions, maintenance upkeep, etc.