A new white paper from the Mid-America Freight Coalition (MAFC) demonstrates strategies that can help meet the growing demand for truck parking.
In many cities, demand for truck parking spaces exceeds supply. These shortages jeopardize public safety when truckers resort to parking on highway ramps and shoulders, parking in unsecure areas, or violating rules around maximum hours of service.

The white paper examines the potential value of vacant urban parcels of land for truck parking. MAFC researchers established a methodology to identify potential parcels and examine whether they are suitable for parking. In the cities studied, the authors found that affordable, accessible parcels are available.

The paper demonstrates that, when used in conjunction with other policies, adaption of urban sites could help reduce the frequency and severity of truck parking shortages.

The idea for the research leading up to this white paper stems from the Truck Parking Information and Management System (TPIMS) project spearheaded by the Mid America Association of State Transportation Officials (MAASTO). In response to concerns around truck parking, eight states – Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin – have joined together in developing a multi-state TPIMS. The project is funded through a $25 million TIGER grant and state funds.

The white paper can be downloaded from the MAFC website here.