The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
Tony Bradley
Arizona recently made a major transportation announcement that will significantly improve the safety and efficiency of our roads. It wasn’t a new travel lane, bridge, or interchange. Although these types of projects are important, this new construction aims to address our severe shortage of truck parking, an essential form of infrastructure that is too often overlooked.When Arizona families drive around our state, they have likely seen this issue manifested as 18-wheelers parked on highway off-ramps, side streets, and the shoulder of rest areas. The Arizona Department of Transportation’s plan to build an additional 846 parking spaces in 10 locations would help to meet the overwhelming need. A total of 370 parking spots could be built along interstates in Tonopah, Winslow, and Wilcox using existing funding, while the remaining spaces could be constructed as funding becomes available.
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Trucking is a diverse industry, but we share a common mission: a commitment to public safety. The nationwide lack of truck parking is fundamentally a safety issue that endangers all motorists. That’s why we applaud ADOT for prioritizing truck parking, and we are urging Congress to pass Senator Mark Kelly’s Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, which would help fund Arizona’s forward-thinking truck parking plan and enable more states to follow Arizona’s example.Imagine finishing a long shift and not knowing if you will have a safe place to sleep that night. Unfortunately, this is an all-too-common reality for truckers. An astonishing 98% of truck drivers regularly experience difficulties finding parking. Nationwide, there are more than 11 truck drivers for every one parking space.Truckers are bound by strict regulations set by the U.S. Department of Transportation that mandate how many hours they can spend behind the wheel. When truck drivers run up against the clock, an anxiety-inducing search for a safe parking spot begins. When no spots are available, they are faced with an impossible dilemma: either park in an unauthorized location or keep driving until they find one. As a result, 70% of drivers have been forced to violate federal hours-of-service rules.Law enforcement officers experience a similar predicament. When they come across a truck parked on the shoulder of a rest area that is completely full, they know that telling the driver to move is tantamount to ordering him or her to break federal law. At the same time, allowing the truck to remain on the side of the road is inherently hazardous.The threat is not theoretical. Acco …
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