On Wednesday, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) implored the White House to address the truck parking crisis in an upcoming infrastructure package.
On April 21, OOIDA penned a letter to U.S. DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg asking for dedicated funding for safe truck parking to be included in the American Jobs Plan infrastructure package.
OOIDA specifically asked the Biden Administration to include the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, H.R. 2187 in the infrastructure package. “It is far past time that the federal government make a significant investment in addressing the truck parking shortage, and the American Jobs Plan is one of the best opportunities we have seen to take meaningful action,” the letter argues.
The letter reminds lawmakers of the results of the USDOT’s 2019 Jason’s Law Survey released in December 2020 which found that the truck parking shortage is a worsening problem in every state and region.
OOIDA pointed to the tireless efforts of the American truck driver in keeping the country running during the pandemic and argues that providing more truck parking is a way to support essential workers:
“For essential workers who have worked throughout the pandemic, making their day-to-day work safer and easier is the least that you could do for them. Investment in truck parking would make a tremendous difference in the lives of those that can’t find a safe place to park on a regular basis. It’s something that most people take for granted, but in trucking the struggle is real.”