Bill Overview
Title: Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act
Description: This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide competitive grants to Indian tribes, states, metropolitan planning organizations, and local governments for projects that provide parking for commercial motor vehicles and improve the safety of commercial motor vehicle drivers on federal-aid highways or on a facility with reasonable access to such a highway or a freight facility. In providing grants, DOT must prioritize applicants that demonstrate a shortage of commercial motor vehicle parking capacity in the corridor in which the project is located; consultation with motor carriers, commercial motor vehicle drivers, public safety officials, and private providers of commercial motor vehicle parking; the project will likely increase the availability or utilization of commercial motor vehicle parking, facilitate the efficient movement of freight, and improve highway safety, traffic congestion, and air quality; and the ability to provide for the maintenance and operation of the facility.
Sponsors: Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]
Target Audience
Population: Commercial motor vehicle drivers globally
Estimated Size: 3500000
- The bill aims to provide parking for commercial motor vehicles, so the primary impact is on commercial motor vehicle drivers.
- By providing more parking, the bill aims to improve safety for these drivers by reducing places where unsafe parking currently occurs.
- Increased parking can decrease traffic congestion as trucks will not be parked illegally or in travel lanes.
- Improving parking availability can help in reducing driver fatigue as drivers can find rest spots more easily.
- The bill targets projects on federal-aid highways, impacting those areas specifically.
Reasoning
- The Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act will primarily impact commercial motor vehicle drivers, especially truck drivers, who often face issues with finding safe and legal parking. The policy's aim is to improve these conditions, with the expectation that it will enhance driver wellbeing by reducing stress, fatigue, and safety risks.
- Given the estimated target population of 3.5 million truck drivers in the US, and a budget of $2.8 billion over 10 years, the policy can significantly impact the wellbeing of this population. However, effectiveness will depend on the strategic placement of parking facilities and collaboration with stakeholders.
- Non-impacted populations might include people who do not interact with federal-aid highways or truck-dependent goods, while some minor effects may be felt through economic improvements in freight efficiency.
- Some people involved in adjacent industries (e.g., retail) could experience indirect effects through enhanced supply chain efficiency, though these are secondary compared to the direct effects on truck drivers.
Simulated Interviews
Truck driver (Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Finding safe parking is a daily challenge that adds stress to my job. This bill sounds like it can help with that.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Logistics manager (New Jersey)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our drivers struggle with parking availability, impacting delivery schedules. This policy could improve our operations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired truck driver (Ohio)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- When I was driving, parking was a major issue. This is a positive step for current drivers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Environmentalist (California)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While this addresses immediate safety, I hope it considers long-term environmental impacts by integrating green technologies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Small business owner (Illinois)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More parking facilities could bring additional business to local shops and diners.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Long-haul truck driver (Florida)
Age: 37 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improving parking facilities will make my job less stressful and more predictable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Retired logistics coordinator (Kansas)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's important for current workers to have safer conditions. I support this kind of improvement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Road safety officer (Missouri)
Age: 44 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything that improves truck parking safety will reduce accident risks, which is a positive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Freight company executive (New York)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better parking can lead to improved delivery times and reduced logistics costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Highway maintenance worker (Nevada)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More parking spots mean less damage to the roadsides from makeshift truck stops.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $400000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $500000000)
Year 2: $400000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $500000000)
Year 3: $400000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $500000000)
Year 5: $400000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $500000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Policy implementation should focus on areas with acute parking shortages to maximize benefits.
- Collaboration with local and tribal governments will be crucial for project success and maintenance.
- Monitoring and reporting mechanisms will be needed to ensure projects meet safety and efficiency goals.