USDOT Awards $200 Million for Truck Parking in 12 States

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced $200 million in federal funding on October 14, 2026, to expand truck parking across 12 states. The investment will support 14 projects aimed at improving access to safe parking along major freight routes, near ports, and at highway rest areas.

Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced the awards through the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight and Highway Projects (INFRA) program.

The funding targets one of the trucking industry’s most persistent problems: finding a safe place to stop when driving hours are running low.

However, the awards do not mean the new spaces are immediately available. Construction schedules and opening dates will depend on individual projects.

Where New Truck Parking Spaces Are Planned

USDOT highlighted six awards that will expand truck parking capacity in Georgia, Iowa, North Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin.

The announced projects include:

• Georgia — $11.95 million: Approximately 275 commercial vehicle parking spaces will be built near the Port of Savannah. The facility will be located along State Route 21 in Garden City.

• Iowa — $24.5 million: Six public rest areas along Interstate 80 will receive expanded and modernized commercial vehicle parking. The locations include Mitchellville, Wilton, Victor, Minden, and Underwood.

• North Carolina — $6 million: The Port of Wilmington will receive approximately 140 dedicated truck parking spaces and 50 container staging positions.

• Texas, Fort Worth — $5 million: Approximately 100 new commercial vehicle parking spaces will be added at the Pilot Travel Center along Interstate 35.

• Texas, Cameron County — $9 million: Road improvements will provide access to a new public truck parking facility near the Los Indios Port of Entry. The planned facility will include approximately 305 spaces.

• Wisconsin — $15 million: Two safety rest areas along Interstate 41 in Dodge County will gain approximately 106 additional truck parking spaces.

Together, these six awards total $71.45 million. They are part of the larger $200 million investment covering 14 projects across 12 states.

USDOT has published the complete award list separately through its FY 2026 INFRA Track 2 awards page.

Truck Parking Shortage Continues to Affect Drivers

Limited truck parking remains a serious problem across the United States, especially near major freight corridors and distribution centers.

According to USDOT, approximately 40% of truck drivers spend more than an hour each day searching for parking.

That time can add costs to trucking operations and reduce the hours available for productive work.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has also documented widespread parking shortages through its Jason’s Law research.

When designated parking areas are full, drivers sometimes park along highway ramps, shoulders, or other locations not designed for overnight truck parking.

These situations can create safety risks for commercial drivers and passing motorists.

The new federal investment aims to reduce these problems by expanding parking capacity in areas with significant commercial vehicle traffic.

How More Truck Parking Could Help With Hours of Service

For commercial truck drivers, finding parking is closely connected to federal hours-of-service regulations.

Most property-carrying drivers operating under standard federal rules are limited to 11 hours of driving within a 14-hour duty window after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty.

Drivers must also comply with applicable break requirements.

When parking areas are full, drivers may need to stop earlier than planned or continue searching while their available driving time decreases.

This can complicate delivery schedules and rest planning.

Additional truck parking along major routes such as I-80, I-35, and I-41 could give drivers more options when approaching their required rest periods.

However, the benefits will depend on the location, accessibility, and availability of the completed facilities.

Truck Parking Projects Will Also Support Port Operations

Several projects focus on areas where truck traffic is concentrated around ports and international freight crossings.

The planned 275-space facility near the Port of Savannah could provide additional parking for drivers operating around one of the nation’s major container ports.

At the Port of Wilmington, the project combines truck parking with container staging positions.

These improvements could help drivers manage waiting periods and coordinate freight movements near port terminals.

In Cameron County, Texas, the project will improve access to a planned parking facility near the Los Indios Port of Entry.

The location could provide additional stopping options for commercial vehicles operating near the U.S.-Mexico border.

Although the projects serve different freight markets, they share the goal of increasing designated parking capacity in busy transportation areas.

Federal Truck Parking Funding Exceeds $300 Million

The latest announcement follows other federal investments intended to address the nationwide parking shortage.

In July 2026, USDOT announced approximately $62 million for truck parking projects in Kentucky, Wyoming, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Illinois.

Those awards were made through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program.

According to USDOT, the federal government has awarded more than $300 million in truck parking grants since April 2025.

The October investment comes through the INFRA program, which supports freight and highway infrastructure improvements.

While these grants provide funding for new facilities and expansions, project development, construction, and completion can take several years.

When Will the New Truck Parking Spaces Open?

USDOT’s October 14 announcement did not provide a single completion date for the 14 projects.

Each project will have its own development and construction schedule.

Some awards involve expanding existing public rest areas, while others support new parking facilities or infrastructure needed to reach them.

Drivers should not expect the newly funded spaces to become available immediately.

The total number of additional spaces also remains unclear from the six projects highlighted in the department’s announcement, particularly because Iowa’s award does not specify a space count.

What the $200 Million Investment Means for Truck Drivers

The funding represents another federal effort to improve truck parking availability along major freight routes.

For drivers, additional spaces could eventually mean less time searching for parking, more options for required rest periods, and fewer situations involving unsafe roadside stops.

The projects may be especially useful in areas with heavy truck traffic, including interstate corridors, ports, and border crossings.

Still, the $200 million investment will not solve the nationwide parking shortage on its own.

The actual impact will depend on how quickly the projects are completed and whether the new spaces are located where drivers need them most.

For now, the announcement establishes funding for future improvements rather than immediate parking availability.