Truck Parking Crisis in America – What New Drivers Should Know

For new CDL drivers, the first months behind the wheel often come with unexpected challenges. Among them, none is as immediately pressing as finding a safe and legal place to park. Unlike scheduling freight, managing fuel, or navigating routes—issues that drivers can plan for—the shortage of truck parking spaces in America presents an unavoidable, daily hurdle.

The Scope of the Truck Parking Shortage

The National Ratio: 1 to 11

At the heart of the problem lies a stark number: there is only one available truck parking space for every 11 drivers nationwide. This imbalance forces drivers into daily competition for limited spaces. If you are a new driver, it means planning stops well before your logbook requires it, or risking being shut out when you need rest the most.

Freight Demand Is Rising, Not Falling

The challenge is not static—it is intensifying. Over the next decade, America’s freight system is projected to handle 2.4 billion more tons of goods than it does today. That will require more trucks, more drivers, and inevitably, more parking spaces. Yet infrastructure expansion has not kept pace with demand. For new drivers entering the industry in 2025, the crisis is worse than ever, and without rapid policy action, it will only grow more severe.

Why the Public Sees Trucks in Odd Places

Motorists increasingly notice 18-wheelers parked on highway offramps, shoulders of rest areas, and industrial side streets. This visibility is not about convenience—it’s about necessity. When parking lots are full, drivers face a choice: keep driving illegally past their hours-of-service limit, or stop wherever space is available, no matter how unsafe or unauthorized it may be. The latter choice is more visible to the public, but both carry risks.

The Financial Toll on New Drivers

The truck parking crisis is not only a matter of frustration and safety—it is also a direct assault on drivers’ wallets. For new CDL holders, who are often entering the profession with high expectations of steady pay and long-term opportunity, the financial impact can be devastating.

Why Lost Miles = Lost Income

Most drivers are paid by the mile, not by the hour. That means every mile not driven translates into lost income. When a driver spends nearly an hour each day circling for parking, that time does not appear on a paycheck. Instead, it erodes the bottom line in ways that compound over weeks and months. With ATRI estimating 9,300 lost miles annually per driver, the math is clear: fewer miles driven equals smaller paychecks.

Early Career Impact: Thousands Lost When You Can Least Afford It

New drivers often enter the industry with expenses: student loans from CDL school, training costs, or family obligations. Losing $4,600 to $5,600 annually from parking-related delays is not just inconvenient—it can be financially crippling during the crucial first years. These losses occur before a driver even factors in rising fuel prices, insurance, or equipment costs if they become an owner-operator. For rookies, the parking shortage undermines financial stability right from the start.

The Fairness Factor

What makes this loss even harder to swallow is that it comes from a systemic infrastructure failure outside drivers’ control. No amount of personal effort can create new parking spaces. Drivers comply with regulations, invest in their training, and work demanding hours—yet they are forced to absorb the costs of a broken system. In any other industry, workers are compensated for downtime caused by infrastructure gaps. In trucking, the burden falls squarely on the individual.

The Self-Reinforcing Cycle

The parking shortage feeds into a vicious loop:

• Drivers lose pay due to wasted time and reduced miles.
• Frustration grows, causing many—especially new drivers—to leave the industry.
• Driver shortage deepens, creating even more strain on those who remain.
• Workforce capacity shrinks, making every lost hour of productivity even more damaging.

This cycle erodes retention, weakens recruitment, and pushes the industry further into crisis. For new drivers, understanding this cycle is critical: parking shortages are not just a personal nuisance but a force shaping the economics of the entire profession.

The Broader Economic Ripple Effect

The effects of the parking shortage extend well beyond drivers’ personal earnings. At a national level, the crisis is undermining supply chain efficiency, productivity, and consumer costs.

Connection to Supply Chain Delays

When trucks are parked instead of moving freight, deliveries slow down. A single hour wasted may not seem catastrophic, but when multiplied across hundreds of thousands of drivers, the result is enormous. Freight that should be arriving on store shelves or factory floors gets delayed, triggering ripple effects across industries.

Amplifying the Driver Shortage

The United States already faces a driver shortage estimated at 340,000 positions, fueled by disqualifications, language barriers, and career changes. Parking shortages amplify this crisis by effectively removing capacity from the system. A driver who spends an hour each day searching for parking is, in economic terms, no different than a driver who has left the workforce.

Lost Productivity on a National Scale

Multiply 56 wasted minutes per day across nearly two million truck drivers, and the scale of lost productivity is staggering. Entire fleets lose revenue capacity because their drivers are not moving freight when they should be. For carriers, this translates into lost contracts, strained customer relationships, and higher operational costs.

Why Consumers Ultimately Pay the Price

Trucking is the backbone of the American economy. Virtually every product on store shelves arrives there by truck. When inefficiencies build into the system, the costs do not vanish—they pass down the line. Delays and reduced capacity drive up shipping costs, which are then reflected in higher prices for consumers. In this way, the parking shortage is not just a “trucking problem”—it is an economic problem that touches every household in America.

Policy and Industry Response

The severity of the parking shortage has not gone unnoticed. Federal agencies, lawmakers, industry groups, and private operators are all taking steps to address the crisis. But the question remains: will the response be fast enough to keep pace with growing demand?

The Role of USDOT and Secretary Pete Buttigieg

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has made truck parking a priority, framing it as both a supply chain necessity and a public safety issue. Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, discretionary grants are now available for states that apply to expand truck parking. Buttigieg has been vocal about encouraging states to tap into these funds to deliver tangible solutions.

Bipartisan Support: The Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act

In Congress, momentum is building around the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act—a bipartisan bill sponsored by Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Rep. Mike Bost (R-Illinois), and Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minnesota). This legislation would dedicate $755 million in competitive grant funding specifically for truck parking projects nationwide. Support comes from every corner of the trucking ecosystem: industry associations, law enforcement, private truck stop operators, and safety advocates.

Partnerships with Private Truck Stop Operators

While government funding is essential, private truck stop operators also play a crucial role. Many already provide the bulk of parking capacity, and partnerships between states and these operators could help expand lots, integrate smart parking technologies, and improve security. Incentives for private investment will likely be a key part of any sustainable solution.

ATA’s Lobbying and Letters to Governors

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has ramped up lobbying efforts, sending letters to all 50 governors reminding them of the federal resources available for parking expansion. ATA leaders, alongside state-level associations, continue to testify before Congress, pressing the urgency of the crisis and highlighting its impact on both drivers and consumers.

Outlook for 2025 and Beyond

While progress is being made, solutions take time to materialize. Building new parking lots, expanding rest areas, and integrating smart parking systems are multi-year projects. In the meantime, the shortage worsens as freight demand grows. For new CDL drivers entering the field in 2025, the reality is clear: parking will remain a daily challenge for the foreseeable future. Advocacy, planning, and safety-first decision-making will be essential until capacity catches up with demand.

What New Drivers Should Do Right Now

The truck parking shortage may feel overwhelming, but new CDL drivers are not powerless. While broad solutions require infrastructure investment and policy reform, individual drivers can take concrete steps today to reduce risk, improve safety, and protect their earnings.

Trip Planning with Parking Apps

Modern trucking has one powerful advantage over past decades: technology. Apps like Trucker Path, Park My Truck provide real-time data on parking availability, user reviews of lots, and alternative locations when major truck stops are full. For new drivers, trip planning should include:

• Checking app data before starting the day.
• Identifying three backup parking options along your route.
• Monitoring parking availability in real time and adjusting accordingly.

Failing to plan often means being forced to park at unsafe or illegal locations. Experienced drivers know that planning for parking is as essential as planning for fuel.

Parking Strategies: Stop Early vs. Risk Late Availability

One of the hardest decisions for new drivers is whether to park early or keep driving. The tradeoff is clear:

• Stopping early ensures a spot, but sacrifices potential miles and income.
• Driving late risks full lots and dangerous improvisation.

Many veteran drivers recommend a “sweet spot” strategy: if your clock allows, aim to park before 7 p.m., when lots typically fill up. For day drivers, stopping for a break earlier in the afternoon can secure a space before the evening rush. New drivers should experiment with timing and routes to find the balance that works best, but erring on the side of safety is always preferable.

Communicate with Dispatch

Dispatchers play a key role in helping drivers succeed, but they are not mind readers. New drivers should communicate proactively about parking challenges:

• Let dispatch know when certain areas along your route have chronic shortages.
• Request earlier delivery or pickup windows to avoid late-night parking hunts.
• Document parking delays to reinforce the reality of lost time and income.

By building a transparent relationship with dispatch, you can shape your schedule around realistic parking availability instead of pushing to the brink of unsafe conditions.

Night Driving vs. Daytime Parking Advantages

For some drivers, shifting work hours can be an effective adaptation.

• Night driving: If you run overnight, you’ll often find parking available in the morning after other drivers leave.
• Daytime driving: If you prefer daytime hours, aim to park in the early evening before peak congestion at rest areas.

Neither option is perfect, but understanding these patterns helps new drivers plan around the heaviest parking demand.

Networking with Other Drivers

One of the most underrated strategies is simple conversation. Veteran drivers know where “hidden gems” exist—small rest areas, municipal lots, or underutilized truck stops just off major routes. By networking at truck stops, on CB radios, or in online forums, new drivers can build a personal map of safer and less crowded places. These tips are often more reliable than any app.

Safety First, Always

Above all, remember: safety comes before convenience or miles. Parking on a dark shoulder or unsafe street may save 30 minutes, but it risks theft, assault, or collisions. New drivers should adopt this mindset from day one: never sacrifice safety for short-term gains. When in doubt, shut down early in a safe lot, even if it means explaining a lost mile to your dispatcher. In the long run, protecting your health and license is worth far more.