DOT Awards $200 Million for Truck Parking Projects in 12 States

The U.S. Department of Transportation has selected 14 truck parking projects in 12 states for $200 million in federal funding. TheTrucker.com reported October 14 that the awards come through a dedicated commercial motor vehicle parking component of the INFRA program. Projects include new facilities, expanded interstate rest areas and access improvements near major freight corridors, ports and border crossings.

Examples show how the money is being distributed. Savannah, Georgia, is slated for about $11.95 million and an estimated 275 spaces. Iowa is expected to receive roughly $24.5 million for improvements at six Interstate 80 rest areas. Wilmington, North Carolina, is set for approximately 140 truck spaces and 50 container-staging positions. Awards also support 100 spaces in Fort Worth, Texas, access work for a planned 305-space facility in Los Indios, Texas, and an estimated 106 spaces along Interstate 41 in Wisconsin.

DOT says 40% of truck drivers spend more than an hour searching for parking. That time can consume fuel, reduce productive driving and complicate a driver's approach to federal hours-of-service limits. The awards do not mean the spaces are open now. Each project must complete its own planning, grant requirements and construction, so availability dates will vary.

Drivers should continue using current parking information and planning a primary stop plus a legal backup before the duty clock gets tight. Carriers can identify recurring parking delays from ELD and dispatch data, then adjust routes and appointment expectations around known shortages. Training programs should teach parking decisions as part of trip planning, including when to stop early rather than risk roadside parking. As projects advance, fleets can update route guides with verified opening dates and facility rules instead of relying on award announcements alone.