New AZ Truck Parking Expansion with Real-Time Parking Information

A Step Closer to Solving the Truck Parking Shortage in Arizona

Truck parking has been a growing challenge for commercial drivers in Arizona. More trucks are on the road now than ever before. As freight traffic increases, so does the demand for safe and available parking. Many truckers struggle to find designated spots. This leads to parking on highway shoulders, ramps, and other unsafe areas.

To tackle this issue, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is launching two major initiatives. These projects aim to improve safety and parking access for truckers across the state. The first is the Interstate 10 Truck Parking Availability System (TPAS). The second is the Statewide Truck Parking Implementation Plan. Both efforts will add new parking spaces and provide real-time availability updates for drivers.

New Real-Time Truck Parking System on Interstate 10

ADOT has installed a new Truck Parking Availability System (TPAS) at rest areas along Interstate 10. These rest areas include:

• Ehrenberg Rest Area (mileposts 4-5, near the California border)
• Bouse Wash Rest Area (milepost 53, west of Phoenix)
• Texas Canyon Rest Area (mileposts 320-321, east of Tucson)
• San Simon Rest Area (milepost 388, near the New Mexico border)

The TPAS system tracks available parking spaces in real-time. It then displays this information on electronic signs along I-10. Truck drivers will also be able to access this data on Arizona’s traveler website (az511.gov) and through third-party trucking apps.

How TPAS Works

• Cameras and radar sensors monitor parking availability.
• Electronic signs show the number of open spaces at nearby rest areas.
• Truckers, dispatchers, and other drivers can check parking updates online.

This system helps truckers find safe places to park without wasting time searching. The U.S. Department of Transportation funded this project as part of the I-10 Corridor Coalition. This coalition includes Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. In total, the system provides parking data for over 550 truck parking spaces along the I-10 corridor.

More Truck Parking Across Arizona

Arizona is also expanding parking through the Statewide Truck Parking Implementation Plan. This plan will add 842 new truck spaces at 10 locations across Arizona. These locations are along I-10, I-40, and I-8, where the demand for parking is highest.

New Truck Parking Locations

1. Burnt Well Rest Area (I-10) – 103 new spaces
2. Meteor Crater Rest Area (I-40) – 140 new spaces
3. B-10/SR186 Safe Lot (I-10) – 127 new spaces
4. Crazy Creek Safe Lot (I-40) – 176 new spaces
5. Ehrenberg Rest Area (I-10) – 53 new spaces
6. San Simon Rest Area (I-10) – 80 new spaces
7. Bouse Wash Rest Area (I-10) – 55 new spaces
8. Seligman Safe Lot (I-40) – 72 new spaces
9. Sacaton Rest Area (I-10) – 20 new spaces
10. Mohawk Rest Area (I-8) – 16 new spaces

ADOT has received $32 million in federal funding from the National Highway Freight Program (NHFP) to complete the first phase of this plan. The first projects will focus on Burnt Well, Meteor Crater, and the B-10/SR186 Safe Lot. These three locations will add 370 new truck spaces in the near future.

Why Parking Expansion is Critical

Truck drivers struggle daily to find safe parking. A 2020 survey by the I-10 Corridor Coalition found that 78% of truckers spend more than 30 minutes looking for parking. This search wastes valuable time and adds to driver fatigue.

When truck parking is unavailable, many drivers park in unsafe areas. This includes on-ramps, off-ramps, and highway shoulders. These locations pose serious safety risks to both truckers and other motorists.

According to ADOT’s Statewide Truck Parking Plan, parking shortages are worst along I-10 and I-40. These highways carry some of the highest truck volumes in Arizona.

Lack of parking is also a major safety concern. Between 2018 and 2023, Arizona recorded 509 truck-related crashes caused by either driver fatigue or parked vehicles. Most of these crashes happened on I-10 and I-40.

Future Plans for Truck Parking in Arizona

ADOT’s long-term goal is to continue expanding truck parking across the state. The agency plans to secure additional funding to build even more rest areas and parking lots.

In addition to adding spaces, ADOT is working on new technology and policy solutions to improve parking:

• Truck Parking Information Systems (TPIMS) – These systems will use road signs and mobile apps to provide real-time parking updates.
• Public-Private Partnerships – ADOT is working with truck stop operators to increase private parking availability.
• Safe Lots – New truck-only lots with basic amenities like lighting and restrooms are being developed.

Looking Ahead

Arizona’s new truck parking projects should make life a bit easier for truck drivers along these routes. The I-10 Truck Parking Availability System will give truckers real-time parking updates, reducing wasted time and improving safety. Meanwhile, the Statewide Truck Parking Implementation Plan will add hundreds of new parking spaces in critical areas.

With these improvements, Arizona aims to create safer roads, reduce driver fatigue, and improve freight efficiency.

For more details on the TPAS, visit azdot.gov/tpas. To learn more about the I-10 Corridor Coalition, visit i10connects.com.

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