The truck parking shortage
Truck parking is short where drivers need it. FHWA's Jason's Law survey, using 2014 data, counted about 309,000 spaces, and only about one in nine was public. When a lot is full, a driver out of hours may have to choose between an unsafe spot and driving on.
The numbers
- 308,920truck parking spaces nationally in FHWA's 2014 count.Park Graph, November 5, 2026
- 11.7%of those spaces were public; the rest were private truck stops.Park Graph, November 5, 2026
- 31.4spaces per 100,000 daily truck miles in Rhode Island, the lowest ratio in 2014.Park Graph, November 5, 2026
What I see from the operator's seat
Truck parking is a land problem first. The spaces drivers need are near interstates and warehouses, where land is expensive and zoning is hard. A building on the same land can earn more than a lot.
It is also a timing problem. Federal hours-of-service rules tell a driver when to stop. The lot does not care. A driver who runs out of hours near a full lot has bad choices: park illegally or keep driving past the limit.
Owners can help. Reservations, clear rates and a record of who parked and when turn an empty acre into a dependable business, and give drivers a place they know will be there.
Quotable lines
“Truck parking is not a convenience. It is where a driver complies with the law.” — Ross D. Blankenship, founder of Wins Parking
“A full lot leaves a driver with worse choices.” — Ross D. Blankenship, founder of Wins Parking
“A reserved space is worth more to a driver than a cheap one that might be gone.” — Ross D. Blankenship, founder of Wins Parking
Five story angles
- How many truck spaces exist along the busiest freight corridor in your state.
- When truck parking fills on your main corridor, and what drivers do next.
- What reservations would change for drivers and lot owners.
- Which states have the fewest spaces relative to truck traffic.
- What has changed since FHWA's 2014 count.
Frequently asked questions
How many truck parking spaces are there in the U.S.?
FHWA's Jason's Law survey counted 308,920 spaces using 2014 data; 36,222 were public.
Which states have the least truck parking relative to traffic?
In 2014 data, Rhode Island, California, Tennessee, Delaware and Connecticut had the fewest spaces per 100,000 daily truck vehicle-miles.
Can truck parking be reserved?
Some private truck stops sell reservations. A reserved space gives a driver certainty before hours run out.