Truck Parking Study: FMCSA Survey Open for Comment

FMCSA Seeks Input on Truck Parking Study

A new federal notice scheduled for publication on April 6, 2026, outlines plans by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to study the impact of truck parking shortages across the United States. The agency is requesting public comments as it prepares to move forward with a new research effort focused on understanding the benefits of adding more truck parking spaces.

New Federal Study Targets Truck Parking Shortage

FMCSA announced that it plans to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval. The proposed study, titled “Quantifying the Benefits of Creating New Truck Parking Spaces,” will gather data directly from truck drivers.

The agency expects to collect approximately 1,000 survey responses from commercial drivers. Each participant will complete a one-time survey that takes about 25 minutes.

The goal of the study is to better understand the real-world impact of truck parking shortages and to estimate the financial benefits of expanding parking capacity nationwide.

Why Truck Parking Remains a Top Industry Concern

According to FMCSA, the lack of available truck parking continues to be a major issue across the trucking industry. The agency cited findings from the American Transportation Research Institute’s 2024 survey, which ranked truck parking as the number one concern among drivers and the second highest concern overall.

The shortage creates ongoing challenges for drivers, including difficult decisions that can impact safety and compliance. In some cases, drivers may be forced to:

• Park in unauthorized or unsafe locations
• Stop driving earlier than planned to secure a parking spot
• Travel off-route in search of parking
• Exceed federal hours-of-service limits

These conditions can increase costs for carriers and raise safety risks for all road users.

What the Study Will Measure

FMCSA stated that while truck parking has been widely studied, there is still limited data on the exact financial and operational benefits of adding new parking spaces.

This new research aims to fill that gap by collecting detailed information from drivers about their daily experiences. The agency plans to use the survey results alongside other research to estimate how additional parking could:

• Reduce carrier operating costs
• Improve driver well-being
• Lower crash risks

In addition, the study will explore several key questions, including:

• How many trucks park in authorized versus unauthorized areas each day
• The overall size of the nationwide truck parking shortage
• The most cost-effective ways to expand parking capacity
• Which parking information systems are most commonly used
• How often drivers use paid parking or reservation systems

Industry Feedback Shows Strong Support

FMCSA previously opened a 60-day comment period on this proposal in late 2025 and received eight public comments. These responses came from truck drivers, industry groups, and private companies.

According to the agency, nearly all commenters agreed that truck parking is a serious issue. Seven of the eight responses supported the study, while one commenter expressed concern about government involvement and suggested that private companies should address the problem instead.

Several commenters highlighted how the parking situation has changed over time, noting that current infrastructure has not kept up with industry demand. Others pointed to the growing number of paid parking options and the limited availability of free spaces.

Costs and Safety Risks Linked to Parking Shortages

Public comments also emphasized the wide range of costs tied to the lack of parking. These include:

• Increased operating costs for carriers
• Higher crash risks tied to unauthorized parking
• Negative impacts on driver well-being

FMCSA confirmed that the study will account for these factors, along with additional costs such as extra travel when drivers leave their routes to find parking.

The agency is also considering the use of telematics data to support the research, which could provide further insight into driver behavior and parking patterns.

What This Means for Truck Drivers

The outcome of this study could play a role in shaping future decisions on where and how truck parking is expanded across the country.

FMCSA stated that the data will help State and local policymakers make more informed decisions when planning new parking facilities.

For commercial drivers, the study may lead to:

• More targeted investment in high-need parking areas
• Better data-driven solutions to reduce time spent searching for parking
• Potential improvements in safety and compliance

However, the agency noted that this study will focus on the overall benefits of adding parking spaces and will not evaluate differences between paid and free parking options.

Public Comment Period Now Open

FMCSA is now accepting public comments on the proposed information collection. Comments must be submitted within 30 days of the notice’s publication in the Federal Register. Comments should be submitted to http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. 

The agency is seeking feedback on several areas, including:

• Whether the data collection is necessary
• The accuracy of the estimated time burden
• Ways to improve the quality of the information collected
• Methods to reduce the burden on respondents

The results of this effort are expected to provide new insights into one of the trucking industry’s most persistent challenges, with the potential to guide future infrastructure investments and policy decisions.