Truck Parking: $200M in Grants for 2,400 New Spaces
By iAgency
Finding a safe place to park at the end of a long day is one of the oldest problems in trucking. This month, it got a real boost. On October 14, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced $200 million in grants for 14 truck parking projects in 12 states. Together they will add a little more than 2,400 new spaces, according to FreightWaves. Here is where the new truck parking is going, when to expect it, and what you can do now to protect your truck, your cargo and your drivers while they rest.
Key takeaways
Big money for parking. USDOT awarded $200 million through its INFRA grant program to 14 truck parking projects.
About 2,400 new spaces. FreightWaves counted 2,403 new spots across 12 states, from Georgia and Texas to Minnesota and California.
Built on busy freight lanes. Many projects sit on I-40, I-80, I-24, I-91 and I-94, or near major ports and border crossings.
Not overnight. The spaces will be built over the next few years, so good parking habits still matter today.
Where the new truck parking is going
The grants go to states, cities, counties and port authorities, sometimes working with private truck stop partners. The largest projects, as reported by FreightWaves:
Tennessee. 500 spaces at five Pilot Travel Center locations along I-40 and I-24, near Nashville and Knoxville.
Cameron County, Texas. 305 spaces near the Los Indios Port of Entry by Brownsville.
Port of Savannah, Georgia. 275 spaces less than two miles from the port's Gate 4.
Enfield, Connecticut. 260 spaces on I-91 north of Hartford.
Iowa. 150 spaces spread across six rural rest areas on I-80.
Port of Wilmington, North Carolina. 140 spaces serving I-40.
Other awards add spaces in Arkansas (a new rest area on future I-49), Nebraska (I-80 in Dawson County), Monroe County in Georgia, Wisconsin (I-41), Fergus Falls in Minnesota (I-94), Needles in California (I-40) and southern Illinois (I-57). For Texas carriers, there is a local win too: the city of Fort Worth will add 100 spaces at the Pilot Travel Center at SH 170 and I-35W.
Why this is good news for your business
USDOT says 40% of truckers spend more than an hour a day looking for parking. That hour comes straight out of a driver's legal on-duty time, and it often pushes drivers to stop on ramps, shoulders or empty lots. FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs called parking "one of the most persistent challenges faced by American truckers today."
More safe spaces help in three ways:
Less fatigue. Drivers who can stop when they planned to are less likely to push tired. USDOT names fewer fatigue-related crashes as a main goal of the grants.
Better hours of service planning. A known place to stop makes it easier to plan legal trips without running out of clock.
Fewer theft and damage risks. Lit, monitored lots are safer for trucks and freight than a dark shoulder or an empty shopping center.
Truck parking also matters to drivers. It slipped to No. 11 on ATRI's 2026 list of industry concerns, but drivers still ranked it as their No. 2 worry. We covered that list in Top Trucking Issues 2026: What Small Fleets Should Do.
What to do while the new spaces are built
Grant money takes time to turn into pavement. Until then, a few habits can protect your truck and your record:
Plan the stop before the trip. Pick a primary and a backup parking spot for each night, and build that into the load plan.
Check space counts ahead. Some states share real-time open-space counts for rest areas. Check them before you reach the area.
Avoid ramps and shoulders. Parking on a ramp or shoulder raises crash risk and can lead to a ticket.
Lock up and light up. Use kingpin and glad-hand locks, park in lit areas, and keep loaded trailers close to cameras when you can.
Know your hours. Trucks hauling fuel may have extra flexibility this fall. See our guide to the fuel hauler HOS waiver.
Check your coverage for parked trucks
A truck is not safe from loss just because the engine is off. Theft, vandalism and hit-and-run damage can happen at any stop. Make sure your physical damage coverage lists the right value for each truck and trailer, and ask how your cargo coverage treats theft from an unattended trailer. Some cargo policies set rules about where and how long a loaded trailer can sit, so it pays to know them before you need to file a claim.
Want a second look at how your policy handles parked trucks and cargo? Start an online quote and we will go through it with you.
Frequently asked questions
When will the new truck parking spaces open?
USDOT says the projects will be built over the next few years. Timing depends on each project, so check your state DOT for updates on lots near your lanes.
Who received the truck parking grants?
Public agencies, such as state DOTs, cities, counties and port authorities. Some projects partner with private truck stops, including several Pilot Travel Centers.
Can a private truck stop owner apply for these grants?
Not alone. Under the INFRA program, parking funds go to public entities or public-private partnerships, so a private owner would need a public partner.
Does my policy cover theft from a parked trailer?
It depends on your cargo and physical damage policy terms. Some policies have conditions for unattended vehicles, so review yours with your agent.
About iAgency
iAgency is a commercial trucking insurance agency for owner-operators, small fleets and the partners who support them, including dispatchers, factoring companies and accountants. Call or text 469-501-1071, email coi@iagency.biz for certificates, or get an online quote.
Source: FreightWaves, Federal DOT grants will fund more than 2,400 parking spots (Oct. 15, 2026). Program details checked against the USDOT announcement (Oct. 14, 2026).
Photo: Shekai on Unsplash.
This article is general information, not coverage or legal advice. Coverage depends on your policy terms.