Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024:
A coalition of trade groups, led by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, are urging House of Representatives leaders to pass the $755 million truck parking bill to expand truck parking across the nation.
The Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, which boasts 49 co-sponsors from both sides of the political aisle, passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee by a 60-4 vote in May 2023.
The letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) highlights the importance of additional parking for America’s truck drivers. “By increasing capacity, we can ensure that truck drivers do not have to choose between parking in a potentially unsafe location, such as a highway shoulder, or continuing to drive while they feel fatigued or are out of available driving hours under federally-mandated hours-of-service regulations,” the letter says. (Emphasis in original.)
[Related: Senate committee approves DOT funding bill with truck parking, predatory towing provisions]
The letter also brings to light the impact of the current shortage of truck parking on public safety and the supply chain.
“House passage of H.R. 2367 would be an important step not only for improving highway safety, but demonstrating to all the hardworking men and women in the trucking industry that Congress is capable of working together to address problems affecting their daily lives on the road,” the letter says. “Truckers operate in one of the most heavily-regulated industries, especially for small businesses. They often feel that the federal government implements strict regulations on their operations but fails to act when it comes time to address the critical safety concerns they have identified. We stand ready to work with you to provide whatever assistance is necessary to secure another strong, bipartisan vote in support of this legislation on the House floor.”
