In 2025, one of the biggest issues facing the trucking industry is a lack of parking. While it may sound trivial, the reality is that this problem is jeopardizing the safety, freedom, and financial security of truckers around the country.
Fortunately, industry leaders aren’t resting on their laurels, with a wide range of services and technologies available to help ease the burden of finding somewhere to park your truck.
In this guide, you’ll learn how technology is being used to tackle the truck parking crisis, as well as where the crisis is worst and why solving it is so important.
How Bad Is the Truck Parking Crisis?
All this technology to find a parking spot may seem dramatic. However, the truck parking crisis is bad enough that this level of advancement and investment is barely enough to keep up with demand.
According to the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), there is one parking spot for every 11 trucks in the US. As a result, 98% of truckers say that they have had trouble parking in the past and have resorted to parking in unsafe locations, like road shoulders and exit ramps.
“Scarce availability of truck parking is at crisis levels across the nation. Truck parking remains at the top of truckers’ most pressing concerns and among the top issues for fleet owners.” – David Owen, President of the National Association of Small Trucking Companies
The problem has a lot of indirect impacts on the trucking industry, too. The trucker shortage, for example, is notably exacerbated by the majority of women drivers leaving the profession due to safety concerns. A 2021 survey by Women in Trucking found that over 60% of female truckers have experienced harassment. With more parking options, you don’t just prioritize the safety of your assets, you also protect your drivers from unsafe situations.
On top of all that, the parking crisis is clearly just bad for business. As a result of limited parking options, many drivers cut their shifts short to ensure they can secure a spot, leading to yet another consequence of this solvable problem.
Tech Solutions to the Truck Parking Crisis
The truck parking shortage may seem like an insurmountable issue, but as is often the case, technology is up to the task. Several innovations over the last few years could prove to alleviate the burden of the truck parking shortage, while making life a bit easier for truckers.
Reservation systems
Trying to find a parking spot for your truck exactly when you need it is a recipe for disaster. With strict, government-regulated limits on how long you can drive, many truckers are simply out of luck when they pull up to a truck stop and there aren’t any spots available. This can lead to dangerous parking locations, like on-ramps and shoulders, which can lead to crashes. Here are some apps that act as reservation systems for truck parking:
With reservation systems, however, you can book in advance and have peace of mind while you finish your route. Platforms like the ones listed above have an integrated system that allows you to book parking spots on the app and provides you with contact information to book over the phone if that’s easier. As for availability, the Trucker Path app offers 270,000 parking spots at 8,000 different locations.
Truck parking apps
Truck parking? Yes, there is an app for that. In fact, there are quite a few services that are designed to help truckers find parking, whether it be in the standard truck stop lot or in a space owned by a private citizen. Here are some apps that take a more modern approach to truck parking with this strategy:
These free platforms are designed to pair truckers with private property owners who can accommodate larger vehicles. Like Airbnb, the service allows these property owners to list their spaces on the site for a daily, weekly, or monthly fee, and truckers can pick and choose which ones work best for them.
Apps like Truck Parking Club aim to connect drivers with private property owners who can accommodate trucks. Source: Tech.co testing
Accurate, real-time parking availability
The problem is that mobile apps are only as helpful as they are accurate. Tracking real-time parking availability, for example, will need more than just trucker updates to be useful, which is why technology is needed to make these systems more accurate. Here are some services that provide accurate parking availability information for trucks:
Luckily, that’s exactly what the government has been investing in, with more and more cameras and sensors being added to lots and truck stops. These are then used to update mobile apps, integrate with APIs with third-party services, and even provide digital road signs that provide information about “parking ahead.”
Worst Regions for Truck Parking
While these tech solutions are available, the truck parking shortage remains an issue. Subsequently, you may be curious which areas of the country are worst for truck parking, so that you can plan routes and manage logistics accordingly.
According to data from Truck Parking Club, the southeast of the US is the worst region in the country for truck parking, with ‘no parking available’ reported on the app 23% of the time. Here’s how the rest of the regions fared:
- Southeast – no parking available reported 23% of the time.
- Northeast – no parking available reported 21% of the time.
- South Central – no parking available reported 20% of the time.
- West – no parking available reported 19% of the time.
- Midwest – no parking available reported 17% of the time.
- North Central – no parking available reported 15% of the time.
Truck Parking Club also took data from specific states, so that truckers can decide exactly which state they want to park in to ensure they get a spot. Ohio was the worst, with Arkansas and Pennsylvania rounding out the top three.
What Is the Government Doing to Address the Truck Parking Crisis?
Beyond the tech solutions currently in place to address the truck parking shortage in 2025, government regulations have also been put in place to alleviate the issue as best they can.
For example, in 2024, the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act was introduced by Congress. The bipartisan bill hopes to dedicate $755 million to invest in truck parking availability and overall truck safety on US roadways over the course of five years.
“American truck drivers are part of the backbone of our economy and if they don’t have safe places to park, their lives and livelihoods are at risk. I’m proud to support the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act because increasing the number of places our truckers can safely rest will keep truckers safe, supply chains moving, and the trucking industry growing.” – Senator Casey
The bill was reintroduced to the House of Representatives in February 2025, with hopes of getting it passed soon to shore up parking availability in the near future.
Fleet Management Software to Find Parking
If you’re looking for more than just a way to find parking, fleet management software could be a helpful tool.
While most platforms aren’t specifically designed with parking in mind, tools like real-time GPS tracking, fine payment, and even parking cost reporting can help you manage your fleet when it comes to parking and beyond.