The American Trucking Associations has announced its applause for Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for introducing legislation H.R. 2156 in the House and S.971 in the Senate, titled “Jason’s Law,” that would implement a pilot program to address shortages in safe parking for commercial motor vehicles on the National Highway System.
“ATA supports this critical legislation and urges quick action in Congress,” says Bill Graves, ATA president and chief executive officer. “The parking shortage for commercial motor vehicles compromises the safety of drivers out on the road and requires a comprehensive solution involving all interested parties.”
Named after slain New York truck driver Jason Rivenburg, this legislation allows the U.S. Secretary of Transportation — in cooperation with appropriate state, regional and local governments — to allocate funds to improve rest areas that serve the National Highway System.
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, “Jason’s Law” would provide grants for the following initiatives:
Rivenburg was shot to death in a March 5 robbery at an abandoned gas station in South Carolina, where he was to deliver a load of milk. Rivenburg had parked there because of a lack of adequate parking for commercial motor vehicles.
The creation of more long-term truck parking has been a longstanding issue within the trucking industry and was an ATA Safety Task Force Report recommendation released in 2008.