As a shortage of parking spots for trucks continues to challenge freight carriers, smartphone app provider Trucker Path has provided statistics showing where the problem is the most acute.
The data is significant because under safety standards set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), commercial drivers are required to stop for rest breaks at certain time intervals, and those limits are carefully monitored through electronic logging devices (ELDs). However, many truckers struggle to find formal parking spots when that clock runs out, so they resort to pulling over on roadsides or at consumer rest stops, creating safety and security problems.
Phoenix, Arizona-based Trucker Path has now measured the locations where that issue is most difficult, by analyzing the information logged by the more than one million drivers who use its app, which offers information about truck stops, parking, fuel prices, and weigh station status. That data shows results for both public parking areas—which include highway rest stops that often offer restrooms but not food or fuel—and private parking areas such as those operated by large chains like Loves and Pilot.
According to Trucker Path, the results show that the states with the least public parking are: Maryland, Tennessee, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. And those with the least private parking are: Massachusetts, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, and North Carolina.
On the flip side of the coin, the states with the most public parking are: Montana, Nevada, Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Michigan. And those with the most private parking are: Alaska, North Dakota, Montana, South Dakota, and Nevada.
