Ever since the coronavirus pandemic ignited a supply chain crisis, the federal government has moved to put more truck drivers on the road.

The Biden administration even pledged to commit more than $30 million to states to expedite commercial driver’s licenses. More trucks hauling more goods is welcomed, considering how significant freight transportation is to the economy. But at every bustling mile along U.S. interstates and freight routes, truckers face a big problem: a shortage of parking spaces.

There are roughly 313,000 parking spaces available nationwide at rest areas for approximately 3.5 million trucks—or about one space for every 11 trucks—according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which regulates trucking and is a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

That problem can become an opportunity for convenience retailers—one that could increase their revenue as they expand or build bigger facilities and charge truckers a fee to reserve a parking space.

“Retailers such as convenience stores are part of a broad set of stakeholders who can help solve the truck parking challenge,” said Cicely Waters, spokesperson for FMCSA. “It is important that we work together to improve access to parking for drivers, both in expanding capacity where possible and in getting drivers information about where parking exists.”

“Ninety-eight percent of drivers report that they can’t find safe truck parking.”

Planning for Parking

Larger convenience stores at traditional truck stops are already grappling with the shortage and offering hundreds of parking spaces on their premises. Some charge a fee to guarantee spots.

Among them is Pilot Flying J. Truck drivers needing to pull off busy Interstate 10 in Channelview, Texas or I-45 in Houston, for example, can pay between $18 and $22 to park their semi-truck. For just the cab, the cost is $7 per night (the rates are as of July 1).

The retailer is banking on truck parking and planning for hundreds of more spaces this year.

“The 2024 growth plan includes building 10 new travel centers to increase the company’s presence in several states, bringing additional services, amenities and over 500 truck parking spaces to the road,” Allison Cornish, senior vice president of store modernization and development at Pilot Travel Centers, said.

At TravelCenters of America, operator of TA and Petro stops, truckers can use the Reserve-It feature to book a parking space up to 30 days in advance. Its loyalty program, Ultra One, lets members redeem points for reserved parking. About 10% of the parking spaces at a site are reserved, and rates vary daily.

“Professional drivers have expressed frustration over not being able to find a parking space at the end of their day. With reserved parking, no matter what time you get to the site, your space will be waiting for you,” the company said.

Love’s Travel Stops has a network of nearly 600 stores and some 48,000 truck parking spaces. It sets aside spaces for professional drivers at each location free of charge.

“This year, we plan to add 20-25 new stores with 70 to 100 parking spaces at each location dedicated to professional drivers,” spokeswoman Lauren Daniels said. “Love’s does not charge for parking at its locations.”

Other large convenience store chains ranging from Circle K and 7-Eleven to Casey’s and Murphy USA are also emulating travel centers in certain locations, replete with truck parking.

Smaller convenience stores, while expanding, aren’t devoting a great deal of parking spaces for truckers or necessarily putting their stores along freight routes where traffic is heaviest.

There are roughly 313,000 parking spaces available nationwide at rest areas for approximately 3.5 million trucks—or about one space for every 11 trucks.

“We don’t charge to park and only occasionally see full lots,” said Nick St. Romain, who handles business development, construction and maintenance at Y-Not Stop, a small chain in Louisiana. Of its 15 stores, just four locations have dedicated truck parking and “none of these are on interstate routes.”

Tackling Trucker Needs

What makes the issue of parking so critical is that truck drivers have restrictions on driving time. By federal law, truckers cannot drive beyond 14 consecutive hours after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty. They must also take a 30-minute break after driving for eight cumulative hours without at least a 30-minute interruption.

Therefore, designated locations for parking lets drivers take rest breaks in compliance with hours-of-service regulations to avoid operating while fatigued. Without safe truck parking, drivers might be forced to park in unsafe locations such as highway shoulders, vacant lots or local streets, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

“Parking in places not designated for large trucks can open drivers up to security challenges,” FMCSA’s Waters said, recalling the murder of Jason Rivenburg, who parked in an abandoned lot in South Carolina. Rivenburg was early to a delivery and the point of delivery would not allow him on-site yet. The tragedy, she said, brought to light the challenges drivers can face when they are not in a safe and secure area.

But even if a driver doesn’t encounter violence, a lack of truck parking is still dangerous, since other drivers can crash into a truck parked on the side of a road.

“Parking in places not designated for large trucks can open drivers up to security challenges.”

“And yet, 98% of drivers report that they can’t find safe truck parking—costing them time and money, making our roads less safe and weakening our supply chains,” Waters said.

FMCSA works with the Federal Highway Administration to focus on solutions. And late last year, the Biden administration invested $80 million in grants from its Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to expand access to truck parking at rest areas along freight routes in Kentucky, Delaware and Indiana.

Waters also said FMCSA has led research on smart technology, like the Truck Parking Information Management System, to help connect drivers to information about where to park. Sometimes parking may seem full, and without awareness of parking availability, it can be difficult for drivers to know where to go to park or that there are actually a few spaces open in what looks like a crowded parking lot. The system evaluates data and dissemination methods for monitoring truck parking space availability and making that information available to drivers in real time.

“FMCSA has funded the technology since 2018 and works with states on how to implement it and related solutions,” Waters added, “so that drivers have reliable information to make route and truck parking decisions.”