Florida Is Leading the Nation in Big Truck Parking Through Proactive Efforts to Support the Trucking Industry

truck parking has been ranked as a top critical issue

BREVARD COUNTY • FLORIDA — Florida is home to more designated public truck parking spots than any other state, a nationally-recognized real-time truck parking availability system, and around-the-clock security at rest areas.

According to the American Transportation Research Institute, truck parking has been ranked as a top critical issue in the trucking industry by truck drivers for in recent years. Several national and state level initiatives have been undertaken in order to understand the issue and identify potential solutions.

The Florida Department of Transportation commissioned the 2020 Statewide Truck Parking Study to build upon existing truck parking studies by using new data and approaches to identify, prioritize, and recommend solutions to address the areas in Florida with the greatest truck parking needs. The Department has continued these efforts with the 2023 Truck Parking Implementation Study to further refine program needs and approach.

Florida’s transportation system has seen an increase in commercial vehicle traffic over the years. The high percentage of freight transported by trucks illustrates the significance and importance of the Florida roadway network as it relates to just-in-time deliveries.

With the increase in commercial vehicle traffic, additional issues arise; one of the issues deals with commercial vehicle operators and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrations hours-of-service rules. Florida’s truck stops experience overflow parking at some locations while others remain underutilized, demonstrating a need for stronger parking information management.

Truck drivers facing this ongoing challenge often resort to unsafe and illegal methods of parking on the interstate mainline and ramp shoulders or in vacant lots.

The Florida Department of Transportation is currently developing a Truck Parking Availability System to address the need for parking information management. The TPAS program will be delivered in three stages: Implementation of technology at state owned facilities to accurately assess and disseminate the availability of truck parking, development of predictive analysis for future parking availability; and incorporation of private parking locations for systemwide resource utilization.

The information that will be provided by TPAS will assist truck drivers in identifying available parking locations where the technology is deployed. Please see all of the documents regarding TPAS here.

Click here to view Truck Parking Availability live on Florida 511

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