EVESHAM -- Commercial truck drivers traveling New Jersey’s highways would have more spaces to safely park their vehicles under legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Michael Torrissi, Jr. (R-Hammonton).
Federal regulations require truck drivers to park and rest after being on duty for long periods of time. But parking spaces for trucks aren’t always readily available and truck drivers can spend as much as an hour every day looking for a spot.
The bill would require the New Jersey Department of Transportation to appropriate up to $50 million in federal infrastructure dollars to provide more truck parking on major highways.
“Building more spaces for commercial vehicles means more safety for motorists and a more efficient supply chain powering our state’s economy,” Torrissi explained.
Lack of safe parking often leads to illegal parking of commercial motor vehicles, typically on shoulders or on- and off-ramps where truckers are at risk of being hit by other drivers.
The American Trucking Associations has called on all 50 governors and state departments of transportation to address this issue, urging them to use federal funds to expand truck parking capacity.
The legislation, Assembly Bill 5003, has been referred to the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee where it awaits further action.
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