Montana is the latest state to put a hardhat on and contribute towards the greater effort against the country’s outstanding truck parking shortage.
Since spring, the Montana State Department of Transportation has undergone a restoration project aimed at enhancing a pair of rest stop facilities on Interstate 90 near Billings, the state’s most populated city.
Expected to be completed by May 2025, the new facelift of the Hardin Rest Area will include a new weigh station, added security, and, to the relief of trucking stakeholders, an expanded offering of 58 truck parking stalls. The Hardin Rest Area consists of two twin facilities along I-90; one serves westbound traffic, while the other serves eastbound traffic.
The 58 truck parking slots will be divvied nearly equally across the two sites. The westbound one will total 30 spaces, while the eastbound one will have 28 spaces.
Parking capacity has been a priority of government funding initiatives towards the transportation industry. A fair portion of federal grants reserved from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are designed to address the issue. In July, a U.S. House committee approved a bill which would dedicate $200 million for expanding parking availability for U.S. truck drivers.
The Hardin Rest Area project also checks the boxes of two other issues truck drivers are typically quick to list.
Among the improvements, restrooms at both sites will be given renovations. The quality, or even lack, of options to relieve oneself while conducting business is an unfortunate reality many drivers face. While, the added security, which includes extra lighting and surveillance cameras throughout both sites, are welcomed safety features that drivers, especially female ones, are outspoken about their lack of at some rest stops.
Service perspective: One of trucking’s key issues is lack of parking
However, the top issue on most drivers’ lists is truck parking. And, at the heel of awesome efforts to solve for the issue are industry horrors—common predicaments where truck drivers cannot find a space to safely, and legally, park their vehicles.
Stalls at rest stops can quickly fill up, leaving any remaining drivers driftless into the night. These truckers often have to be creative, and, unfortunately, in some cases, perilous, when searching for a spot to park overnight. It’s not uncommon to see 18-wheelers hugged on the shoulder of highways or tucked away in the ill-fit corridors of residential side-streets.
Aside from the safety risks, these parking alternatives are often illegal. That said, desperate drivers will brave possible infractions in order to turn off their truck and sleep. In return, despite having reasonable intentions, their vehicles can be booted or towed as a result. Additionally, they or their employer could be subjected to fines.
Can your transportation partner ensure that hired drivers are set up to park safely and legally overnight during long-haul transit of your cargo?
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