Truck parking has been quite an issue for a while now. Truckers have found it hard to get safe spots to pack after long days of hard work. This has been more difficult in some states than others. An article by Transport Topics states that Florida needs to react faster to this problem. Florida, just like most states, needs to act on the matter of rest areas.
What has Florida planned?
The Florida DOT plans to build 132 spaces near Interstate 4 in Sanford. This is South of the Volusia County line. The project won't kick off until 2026. That also means the rest areas will not be ready until 2027. That just clearly shows how much the truckers go through while in Florida. They find it hard to get a safe parking and rest area while on their travels.
The lack of truck parking is a national issue, but it is an even bigger issue in Florida. A 2018 study clearly showed that parking would be a problem. An additional 481 spots were needed in Central Florida, entirely because of the region's ever-growing truck population. By the year 2040, the numbers will be even more crazy. There would be a need for 883 parking slots.
At the moment, close to 20,000 trucks use the I-4. The laws are very clear. The truckers must stop and rest for 10 hours after being on the road for 14 hours. Tired drivers are not safe and should not be on the road. DOT has laid down a good plan to build at least one truck stop site in several areas by 2040.
The new Seminole truck stop site will be on 19 acres. They will require a total of $60 million to complete the project. The budget will cover several things. It will cover the purchase of the land. It also covers restrooms, a dog walk area, vehicle charging areas, and a sidewalk. DOT is pushing to get all the support to get the projects underway. They are hoping to get federal grants to work on the project. They are to write a letter to the transport secretary, Pete Buttigieg, to get approval for the funding.
The project has been in the works for many years now. It is about time the DOT built the rest areas to support truckers in the region. It is a big concern that, over the years, the projects still need to be completed. The projects might take some time to complete, but something needs to happen to get them underway.
One trucker narrated how hard it has been to operate on I-4 because of a lack of rest areas. He stated that he must look for alternatives when he can't get a spot to pack. It becomes challenging and stressful, and therefore, there is a need for the DOT to build these spots. They also challenge private companies like Love's and Pilot to build more rest areas. These projects might be costly and hard to implement, but they are important. They give truckers an easy time operating and, at the same time, make the roads safe since truckers are well-rested more often than not.
