Trucking news and briefs for Monday, Dec. 1, 2025:
FMCSA plans study on truck parking shortage
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, in a Federal Register notice published Friday, announced that it’s planning to submit a new Information Collection Request (ICR) to the White House for review and approval that will allow the agency to conduct a study on the truck parking shortage.
The proposed study, titled “Quantifying the Benefits of Creating New Truck Parking Spaces,” will collect approximately 1,000 survey responses from truck drivers about their experiences with finding truck parking spaces to estimate the monetary benefits of creating new truck parking spaces.
In its notice, FMCSA highlights the truck parking shortage’s consistent ranking as one of the industry’s most pressing issues. In 2023 and 2024, the shortage ranked as the No. 2 overall industry concern in the American Transportation Research Institute’s “Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry” report. Truck parking dropped to the No. 4 overall concern in this year’s report.
[Related: Bye-bye driver shortage: the economy remains trucking’s top concern]
The agency added that “many government, safety, and industry organizations are working to create more truck parking spaces,” but contended that “there is a lack of research on the actual precise monetary benefits of new truck parking spaces.” Those “benefits” FMCSA is referring to include:
- Decreasing carriers’ costs
- Increasing drivers’ well-being
- Reducing the number of crashes
“Although researchers have conducted many other surveys on truck parking, none have reliably estimated the statistics needed, including how often and how long truck drivers (a) park in unauthorized spaces, (b) stop driving early to obtain a parking space, (c) drive off their routes to find parking, and (d) drive past hours-of-service limits to find parking,” FMCSA’s notice reads.
The agency said results from its proposed survey “will be combined with related research to produce estimates of the benefits of creating new truck parking spaces in different areas, which could be beneficial to the many government and private organizations that decide where to build new truck parking spaces.”
In addition to estimating the benefits of new truck parking spaces, FMCSA is looking to answer four related questions:
- How many trucks are parked in authorized and unauthorized areas per day, on average? In other words, how large is the nationwide shortage of truck parking spaces?
- What are the most cost-effective methods for increasing truck parking capacity?
- Which truck parking information management systems are used most often and are most effective?
- What percentage of drivers routinely make reservations, pay for parking, or use various other truck parking services?
Several thousand truck drivers, from a wide range of sectors, will be asked to complete the 25-minute online survey, with a goal of obtaining approximately 1,000 complete responses.
FMCSA is seeking feedback on the proposed survey, including whether it’s necessary for the performance of FMCSA’s functions, ways for FMCSA to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the collected information and more. Comments can be filed for 60 days at www.regulations.gov by searching Docket No. FMCSA-2025-0787.
[Related: New report examines truck parking shortage’s cost to trucking]
Wreaths Across America gets continued support from St. Christopher Fund
The St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund (SCF) is continuing its partnership with Wreaths Across America (WAA), joining forces to support National Wreaths Across America Day on Saturday, Dec. 13. Through this alliance, SCF is helping to promote and participate in WAA’s mission of Remembering the Fallen, Honoring Those Who Serve, and Teaching the Next Generation the Value of Freedom.
Under the partnership, SCF is inviting all supporters, truck drivers, carriers, trucking industry partners, family and friends to visit the SCF landing page on the Wreaths Across America site, select “Sponsor Wreaths,” choose their preferred location, and complete their sponsorship to help place a wreath at the gravesite of a veteran.
“We are honored to team up with Wreaths Across America,” said Courtney Niemann, executive director of SCF. “This partnership gives our community in the trucking industry a meaningful way to participate in a time-honored tradition of remembrance and gratitude for our veterans.”
The connection between the military and the trucking industry runs deep – many professional drivers are veterans themselves, continuing their service to the nation by keeping America’s economy moving. Both communities share core values of commitment, sacrifice, and resilience, and this partnership provides a powerful opportunity to honor those shared ideals.
“By supporting Wreaths Across America, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and our partners are helping ensure that every veteran’s grave is recognized with a wreath, symbolizing the gratitude of a nation that will never forget their service,” said Norita Taylor, SCF Board President and Director of Public Relations at the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA).
SCF encourages every individual and organization across the trucking and logistics sector to participate. Whether sponsoring a wreath, volunteering on-site at the ceremony, or spreading the word among colleagues and loved ones, the involvement helps amplify the message of remembrance.
