Public-Private Partnerships for Truck Parking Capacity Expansion and Development

Truck drivers need safe, secure, and accessible truck parking to obtain the rest required under federal hours-of-service regulations for their own safety and the safety of other road users. States face challenges in constructing and maintaining public truck parking facilities with sufficient capacity and amenities to meet demand. In addition, the prohibition on commercialization at public interstate rest areas limits states’ ability to generate revenue from amenity services for commercial motor vehicle operators. The rise in paid truck parking in the private sector has further affected drivers since many are not reimbursed for parking their vehicles, making parking fees an out-of-pocket expense. As a result, truck drivers increasingly seek unauthorized and potentially unsafe parking locations, such as freeway shoulders, exposing themselves and the motoring public to crash risks, as well as increased risk of cargo thefts. Public–private partnerships (P3s) have been identified as a potential strategy for truck parking capacity expansion off the interstate system. Through collaboration between public agencies and private entities, additional safe truck parking options could increase parking capacity, reduce unauthorized parking in unsafe areas, minimize cargo theft risks, reduce supply chain disruptions, and improve safety outcomes. The objectives of this research are to (1) develop guidelines for state departments of transportation and local governments to use P3 for truck parking and (2) identify best practices that could replicate proven models to advance collaboration and partnerships with the private sector for the purpose of truck parking capacity development and expansion.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=6062
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $500,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 20-145

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Zelinski, Patrick

• Start Date: 20260608
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Best practices; Cooperation; Guidelines; Parking facilities; Public private partnerships; State departments of transportation; Trucks
• Subject Areas: Highways; Motor Carriers; Planning and Forecasting; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01992186
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 20-145
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Jun 9 2026 3:04PM