As of February, 13 states have obligated nearly $87 million in National Highway Freight Program funds for truck parking projects. (vitpho/Getty Images)
March 5, 2026 10:08 AM, EST
Key Takeaways:
- Federal Highway Administrator Sean McMaster told a March 4 national coalition meeting that the Trump administration is prioritizing expanded truck parking through major federal grants.
- The Transportation Department plans to deliver over $275 million for new parking projects as officials cite safety risks and note states have already obligated nearly $87 million.
- FHWA is developing a truck parking safety and efficiency handbook to guide states on methodologies and metrics for future investment decisions.
Federal Highway Administration officials reiterated the Trump administration’s priority to support the nation’s truck drivers with additional safe parking places.
Sean McMaster, Federal Highway Administrator, addressed a March 4 virtual National Coalition on Truck Parking meeting. He described the administration’s focus on improving the lives of American truck drivers with safety and efficiency measures such as funding truck parking.
He noted that the Transportation Department will deliver more than $275 million in grants to states to expand truck parking nationwide.
As of February, 13 states have obligated nearly $87 million in National Highway Freight Program funds for truck parking projects.
“We don’t want the people who keep our economy moving and growing to be forced to park on ramps, highway shoulders or in vacant lots. We want them to have somewhere safe to rest,” McMaster said. “Our clothes, food and essential goods are just that, essential, but they should never cost someone’s life.”
He underscored FHWA’s continued focus on empowering truckers and working to improve their lives.
Last June, FHWA released revised guidance to states about grant eligibility to receive federal dollars to fund truck parking projects.
“These new requirements focus on integrating truck parking into state-level planning and leveraging federal funds more aggressively to solve the national shortage,” McMaster said. “Freight investment plans are a required element of state freight plans. Every state is now required to analyze their parking shortages. They finally have the proof they need to put truck parking at the top of the priority list.”
McMaster. (Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg)
FHWA is further supporting states in their efforts to alleviate truck parking shortages with a new resource. The agency is developing a truck parking safety and efficiency handbook.
“This resource is going to include a wide range of tools agencies can use to estimate the impacts of truck parking and help make truck parking investment and policy decisions,” McMaster added. “We’re committed to accelerating these projects across the country.”
Martin Knopp, FHWA associate administrator for the Office of Operations, explained the new handbook will identify a wide range of methodologies, data resources, metrics and models that state transportation agencies can use to estimate the impacts of truck parking.
“This is intended to help agencies make truck parking investment decisions that improve traffic safety and freight efficiency,” Knopp said.
