NATSO Addresses National Coalition on Truck Parking
The Federal Highway Administration on March 4, 2026, held its annual meeting of the National Coalition on Truck Parking.
During the meeting, NATSO Vice President of Public Affairs Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman urged U.S. DOT to work with the private sector to expand the nation’s truck parking capacity and refrain from pursuing solutions that would harm off-highway businesses, such as commercializing rest areas, and ultimately lead to fewer truck parking spaces being built.
NATSO further asked that the U.S. DOT Advisory Board formed to give guidance for modernizing and enhancing the U.S. transportation system meet with NATSO, Owner Operators, and Trucking industry representatives. Industry is not currently represented on the Advisory Board, and both the users and providers of truck parking must be allowed to give input on truck parking utilized by commercial truck drivers.
Nearly 500 registrants participated in the National Coalition on Truck Parking’s annual meeting, which included Sean McMaster, Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, and Martin Knopp, FHWA Associate Administrator.
NATSO has been a stakeholder in the group since its inception in 2015 and delivers an annual update on the truck stop and travel center industry’s year-long efforts to advance truck parking initiatives. Additional stakeholders include the American Trucking Associations, Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association, American Transportation Research Institute and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance.
During the meeting, NATSO underscored that the best way for states to maximize truck parking grants is to partner with the private providers of truck parking that have experience not just in installing and maintaining commercial truck parking lots, but also in providing all of the amenities that commercial drivers need when they stop to rest.
NATSO supports the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act introduced by Congressman Mike Bost (R-Illinois) and encourages lawmakers to incorporate this legislation into the upcoming highway reauthorization. The Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act would dedicate $755 million for states to put toward truck parking projects and prioritize grants that demonstrate partnership with the private sector.
NATSO urged all stakeholders to oppose legislative policies that harm the industry’s ability to expand truck parking, including commercial rest areas.
FHWA said it aims to publish a full report of the third iteration of the Jason’s Law survey by year end. NATSO worked with FHWA to ensure that the latest survey instrument collected more comprehensive truck parking information that previous iterations.
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