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The critical shortage in truck parking is here and has been for a while. Trucking will only increase as the population continues to grow – along with the warehouses and distribution centers needed to serve that population. The U.S. Department of Transportation expects freight traffic to grow by around 50% by 2050. And since trucks will deliver most of that cargo, parking will continue to be a high priority for the coming decades.

While the private sector owns and operates the majority of truck parking, particularly the facilities located near high-density areas, public owners are still obligated to offer safe places for tired drivers operating under the strict federal Hours of Service Regulations. Those necessary restrictions, along with shipping and delivery windows, compel drivers to park their vehicles. When they can’t find a designated space, they often resort to interstate off-ramps or shoulders, and vacant lots. Both have proven problematic and unsafe.

The solution seems simple: Build more parking spaces. But it’s not as easy as it sounds. Do owners take the most direct route in dollars and time to expand an existing footprint, or do they look for a greenfield to construct something completely new? Both scenarios raise further questions: Does the owner just build the bare basics – a parking facility equipped with adequate lighting, trash receptacles, and bathroom facilities? Should expensive amenities that attract drivers to use the parking site — such as calming green spaces, vending, maintenance areas, or dog parks — also be included? Do they look to the future and provide an intermodal facility that can accommodate changes in federal law, developments in fuel and energy, and an evolving economy?

Consider that a truck rest area can cost upward of $30 million for an ultimate buildout; that transportation funds are, at times, hard to secure; that such a facility requires approval at the local, state, and federal levels; and that it could entail compliance and permitting from an array of environmental and wildlife protection agencies. It makes sense that decisions of this scale – decisions that the truck parking shortage demands – would be made in consultation with an experienced and successful partner.

Working with an engineering firm like WGI, a national design and professional services provider with a 20-year history designing truck parking facilities in Florida, would greatly benefit an owner. The firm can point to various parking and logistics projects for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) in Districts 1, 5, and 7, and statewide with contracts for the Motor Carrier Size and Weight (MCSAW). In addition to public parking, WGI delivered national electrification projects with private fleet owners and owners of parking plazas and fuel centers, installing more than 10,000 EV charging stations. And it all adds up. Whether it’s the public or private sectors, WGI has the background in transportation, site planning, utility infrastructure, landscaping, environmental permitting, and architectural design to make your parking facility project compliant and cost-effective, ensuring it efficiently serves its purpose for years to come.

WGI developed a veteran council to deliver truck parking-related Florida projects. It has perfected the process of master planning with phased buildouts – and pioneered LEED certification for truck parking facilities, developed a system for keeping up with technology and legislation, and explored sources of potential funding, whether it’s public-private partnerships, grants for alternative fuels, or storing materials for agencies like FEMA. Equally as important, the team figured out how to produce a design that includes lifecycle savings through low maintenance and durable materials.

The significant takeaway is that WGI can use the expertise gained in Florida and replicate it in any state where it operates. The team’s organization chart includes experts in every service line needed for a parking project. The team members adhere to granular communications plans, well-wrought protocols for quality assurance/quality control, and follow multi-step processes for both scheduling and budget. While WGI’s regional experts and subcontractors are instrumental in surveying or coordinating with state agencies for environmental permits, the core team in Florida would review, analyze, and develop the owner’s vision, bringing it to fruition.

During the planning process, WGI knows a project’s completion is dictated by currently available funds and anticipated future funding sources. Since truck parking projects have to compete with other transportation priorities, like rehabilitation, safety improvements, or increased capacity, sometimes truck parking expansion is seen as less important. Yet, that could change. Spurred in part by the passage of Jason’s Law in 2012 – named for a driver murdered while parking at an abandoned gas station – the country’s trucking groups are urging elected officials to get behind truck parking. A letter circulating in statehouses nationwide – citing a 2022 memorandum issued by the U.S. DOT – identified as many as nine funding sources. Finally, if approved and funded as written, the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act introduced in Congress would make $755 million available for truck parking.

While funding is always an issue, WGI’s stance is that an owner should plan as if the dollars will eventually be there. Though continually fine-tuned, the base formula is already there – show the client a master plan presenting what can be done based on the available budget, and what the site can ultimately accommodate as additional funds come online. Moreover, WGI can create a long-term plan addressing change over time in the types of trucks using the facility – perhaps autonomous vehicles arriving in platoons – and the increase of and transition to electrification or alternative fuel sources (liquid or compressed natural gas, hydrogen).

An Eisenhower-era regulation forbidding commercial activity at publicly owned locations still shapes what a rest area is and what it can provide. However, members of the WGI team expect that the law will eventually change. If it suits the owner, WGI can leverage its portfolio in private-sector fleet and rest area work to deliver a master plan ready to receive the new elements and amenities a change in the law would allow.

As state DOTs continue grappling with truck parking shortages, WGI brings lessons learned to help owners maximize the parking and amenities of their existing rest areas. Buying new property for a new location can take up to two-and-a-half years before the design process even begins, and it can be expensive. WGI has significant experience in providing services in such a scenario. However, to save time and taxpayer dollars – improving working conditions for truck drivers sooner rather than later – using an existing area and increasing capacity while future-proofing the site is the preferred course of action.

A renovated truck rest area demands the full capabilities of a design firm and takes decades of collective knowledge to do it right. Evaluating rigid vs. flexible pavements, lighting, signage, drainage, buildings, utilities, environmental considerations, landscaping, ingress/egress, and ADA compliance are among the many considerations. Beyond design and engineering, getting people and agencies on your side is essential. Meeting with public and private stakeholders, listening to their concerns, and considering their input is a critical step in the design of any truck parking facility. Never overlook fish and wildlife or archeological and historical sites. From the big picture to the most minute detail, WGI knows how important it is to pay close attention.

Florida’s distinct character attracts attention – its diverse population, sizzling economy, and varied ecosystems, from sunny coastlines to impenetrable swamps. And while the uniqueness of Florida is beyond question, it would be incorrect to assume that what works there won’t work anywhere else. Indeed, WGI believes that the team it built for truck parking projects in Florida can perform successfully on similar projects in any other state. Knowledge, experience, and reliability aren’t defined solely by where they are learned. On the contrary, hard-earned expertise and durable protocols should be shared wherever needed.

Jason’s Law

Jason’s Law is named in honor of Jason Rivenburg. On March 5, 2009, Jason stopped for a delivery in Virginia and then headed toward a delivery destination in South Carolina. While only 12 miles from the delivery location, he needed to find parking to rest through the night as his arrival location was not yet open to receive deliveries. Jason did not have a safe place to park. Jason had learned from truckers familiar with the area that a nearby abandoned gas station was a safe location to park and proceeded to park there for the night. Tragically, he was attacked and murdered at this location while he slept with his killer taking both his life and just $7.00 that he had in his wallet.

Since his death, Jason’s wife, Hope Rivenburg, has worked diligently to bring attention to the national truck parking shortage problem. Her efforts, along with those of countless family members, friends, and representatives from the trucking industry, helped to push forth legislation to focus national attention on the issue.

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