Why most truckers are rejecting paid parking spaces

Although paid parking for trucks came as a solution to the crisis, most truckers are not willing to pay for this service.

Paid truck parking is gaining traction nationwide as a solution to the growing shortage of parking spaces for commercial vehicles. However, a recent survey conducted by the OOIDA Foundation reveals that most truckers are unwilling to pay for this service.

The survey, which primarily included owner-operators, shows that drivers reject paid parking for various reasons: high costs, lack of necessity since many operate on regional or local routes, preference for free rest areas, and the poor location of paid parking spaces, making them unattractive.

Paid parking: a partial solution to the space shortage?

While some view paid parking as a potential solution to the truck parking shortage, 58% of survey respondents indicated that they don’t use these spaces. Moreover, experts such as Charles Sperry, a research analyst at the OOIDA Foundation, argue that this option does not adequately address the issue. According to Sperry, many paid parking lots are built in inconvenient locations and do not offer additional services that justify the cost, leading to dissatisfaction among truckers, as reported by Land Line.

Another problem is that 86% of non-owner-operator truckers do not receive reimbursements for paid parking expenses, further exacerbating the situation. Some leased owner-operators mention trying to recover these costs through other means, such as purchasing fuel or using reward cards, but these methods are limited.

The parking shortage is also affecting truckers’ work efficiency. Aproximately six out of ten truckers waste time searching for parking, resulting in an average of nine hours of lost driving time per week. Company drivers and leased truckers are the most affected, as more than 60% of them have to stop earlier than planned due to the lack of available spaces, according to the OOIDA Foundation.

What do truckers look for in a parking lot?

In April 2024, Trucker Path conducted a survey revealing that truckers prioritize clean restrooms and showers, access to food and services, security, and good location when choosing parking lots. However, the most important factor for truckers is accessibility: they seek free, well-located, and easily accessible spaces where they can park and rest without hassle.

While major truck stop chains are popular, many truckers resort to parking at home or rest areas when no spaces are available. Despite the fact that paid parking could alleviate the shortage, truckers continue to reject this option.

Persistent funding challenges at the state and federal levels to improve the availability of public parking spaces have highlighted the urgent need to find more effective and sustainable solutions within the private sector. Collaboration between the public and private sectors is crucial to ensuring a more efficient and accessible parking system that meets the needs of truckers while also improving safety and productivity on the roads.