Trucker parking options still a big industry issue

One of the big issues that has cropped up in the trucking industry of late is that many drivers say there just aren't enough safe, free parking options available to them. Drivers say this not only makes their jobs more difficult - especially because of the new federal driver tracking regulations now in effect - and could lead them to make riskier decisions about where and when they pull off the road to rest.

Because of this growing issue, more companies and even municipalities are working to improve truck parking options on the nation's highways and byways, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. In Las Vegas, Mayor John Lee is now working with a number of organizations both within and outside the freight industry to create new parking options for drivers who need to get off the road and rest.

Not just a local issue
However, Paul Enos, CEO of the Nevada Trucking Association, added that this is an issue experienced not just in and around Las Vegas, but pretty much everywhere truckers haul freight these days, and despite the driver shortage, it's an issue that seems to be getting worse, not better. When steps can be taken to alleviate these issues, the industry, and drivers in particular, are more likely to benefit.

"We need to find a place for these big trucks to go while they are waiting their turn to drop off a delivery," Lee told the newspaper. "Sometimes they end up in places where they shouldn't be, and we need to figure out these challenges before they become too big."

A big opportunity?
Interestingly, some real estate investment firms now see this kind of parking accessibility as something of an emerging market, according to Bisnow Chicago. This is a different type of industrial land development than what has traditionally been seen in the sector, but with so much demand for trucking services still emerging as more companies throw in their lots with e-commerce, parking development may be vital to keeping the supply chain moving along at an acceptable clip.

Through these parking options, companies and individual drivers may be able to secure a safe place to store their vehicles or trailers either overnight or for longer-term needs, and potentially also get some routine maintenance on the vehicles, the report said.

Again, this issue is only made more significant by the changing rules surrounding how long drivers can be on duty, and it's likely that more "pay to park" spots are going to crop up, according to Overdrive Online. This is a move that's likely to be controversial with truckers, who already pay out of pocket for many expenses they incur in the course of doing their jobs, and right now, only about 4 percent of drivers say they actually use pay-to-park services. At the same time, though, nearly two-thirds indicated they see more lots filling up quickly at peak hours.

This issue is certainly something drivers and freight companies alike will need to monitor and communicate about on an ongoing basis. When everyone understands what's needed, it's possible to forge better employer-employee relationships.