With the app, public and private truck parking providers, including truck stops, rest areas and more, can update the number of available parking spaces at any time to help drivers determine if there are open spaces at a given location. The app is the result of an initiative between the National Association of Truck Stop Operators (NATSO), the NATSO Foundation, the American Trucking Associations and the American Transportation Research Institute.
The app includes the total number of parking spaces at more than 5,000 truck stops in the U.S., along with some rest areas. NATSO says independent and chain truck stops are participating in reporting their available spaces, representing more than 150,000 truck parking spaces.
When the app is opened, it gives the user the option to search for parking spaces within a certain distance of their current location, up to 250 miles, or to search by state or along an interstate.
“Finding a safe place to park is a consistent issue for drivers in our industry,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “While we would love to see the number of spaces increase, tightening state and federal highway budgets will limit the opportunity to expand parking capacity for the foreseeable future. It is important we have ways to let drivers know where the spaces currently exist, which is why this app, developed in cooperation with ATRI and NATSO, is so important. Directing drivers to safe parking spaces will give them opportunity to get the rest they need and the off-duty time they are required to have.”
The app is free to download on both iPhone and Google Play.
