Truck Parking Shortage: FMCSA Launching A New Study

FMCSA Launches New Study to Measure the Benefits of More Truck Parking

FMCSA Begins Research Focused on Truck Parking Needs

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is preparing a new research project aimed at understanding the real impact of adding more truck parking across the country. The agency is launching an information collection titled “Quantifying the Benefits of Creating New Truck Parking Spaces,” which will be published in the Federal Register on November 28, 2025.

The goal is to gather real data from truck drivers about how parking shortages affect their workdays, schedules, and safety.

Truck Parking Shortage Remains a Major Industry Issue

FMCSA notes that the long-standing shortage of truck parking continues to frustrate drivers and increase costs for carriers. The American Transportation Research Institute’s 2024 Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry report found that lack of parking was the number one concern among truck drivers for the second year in a row.

Drivers often face difficult choices, including:

• Parking in unsafe or unauthorized areas
• Stopping earlier than planned to hold a spot
• Leaving their route to hunt for parking
• Going past hours-of-service limits because parking is scarce

FMCSA says that while many groups are trying to expand parking, there is still limited research on the monetary value of building new parking spaces.

Survey Will Gather Data on Daily Parking Challenges

To better understand these challenges, FMCSA plans to collect around 1,000 survey responses from commercial truck drivers. The online survey will take about 25 minutes and will ask drivers about:

• How often they park in legal or unauthorized spots
• How far they drive off-route for truck parking
• Whether they pay for parking or make reservations
• How often they adjust their schedules to secure parking
• Which parking information systems they use

FMCSA plans to combine this data with other research to estimate how new truck parking lots could reduce costs, improve safety, and improve driver well-being.

Truck Parking Research Will Help States Plan New Sites

The agency’s findings will help state and local governments, along with private companies, decide where new parking spaces are most needed. FMCSA will use the survey results to answer key questions, including:

1. How large is the nationwide shortage of truck parking?
2. Which methods of creating new spaces are the most cost-effective?
3. Which parking information and reservation systems work best for drivers?
4. How many drivers routinely pay for or reserve parking?

Several thousand drivers will be invited to participate to ensure a broad and diverse set of responses.

FMCSA Opens Comment Period

FMCSA has opened a 60-day public comment period for the project. The agency is asking for feedback on the need for this study, the accuracy of its cost estimates, and ways to improve the quality of the information collected.

To leave a comment, truck drivers can go to www.regulations.gov and use docket number FMCSA-2025-0787. Please follow the online instructions for submitting comments. *Note that the comment period will be open for 60 days beginning November 28th, 2025.*