For years, truck parking has been treated as a “driver problem.” A lack of spaces meant drivers would circle lots, pull onto shoulders, or gamble on finding somewhere safe to rest. But new data shows that this is not just a driver inconvenience – it’s an industry crisis. According to a recent report, the truck parking shortage is costing the U.S. economy over $100 billion annually.
That staggering number comes from wasted fuel, lost productivity, safety risks, and strained supply chains. And while the problem is most visible to the drivers behind the wheel, it directly affects fleet managers, shippers, and the entire logistics ecosystem. If you’re managing a fleet, parking is your problem too, and the sooner we recognize that, the sooner we can turn it into an opportunity.
The Ripple Effects of Parking Shortages
Every time a driver struggles to find parking, inefficiencies pile up. Surveys show drivers spend an average of 56 minutes each day searching for a safe spot. For a single driver, that’s nearly an hour of wasted time. For a fleet of hundreds, it adds up to thousands of wasted hours each month.
Those delays mean:
- Missed delivery windows. Parking struggles push drivers off-schedule, leaving shippers frustrated and customers disappointed.
- Higher fuel costs. Circling for parking burns fuel at a time when every penny of operating cost matters.
- Regulatory risk. Hours-of-Service compliance becomes harder to manage when drivers spend precious on-duty time hunting for parking.
- Insurance exposure. Drivers forced to park on ramps or in unsafe areas face higher risks of theft, cargo loss, or accidents.
The economics are clear: the longer parking goes unsolved, the more it eats into fleet budgets and operational reliability.
Image: Truck Parking Club
The Human Factor
Behind the numbers are the drivers themselves. As FleetPoint recently highlighted, many drivers are forced into resting places that fall far short on safety, adding to fatigue risk and road danger. That creates stress, unsafe working conditions, and a sense that their time isn’t valued.
It’s no coincidence that driver turnover remains one of the industry’s most pressing challenges. Parking isn’t the only factor, but it is a daily frustration that compounds fatigue, impacts health, and pushes experienced drivers out of the profession. For fleet managers already struggling to recruit and retain talent, improving the parking experience can become a real competitive advantage.
Lessons for UK & European Fleets
FleetPoint’s readers may view this as a largely American problem, but the U.S. market offers an important lesson for Europe: if parking demand isn’t managed now, it will become a bottleneck that disrupts the supply chain.
We’re already seeing signs of stress across European road networks—limited space at rest areas, safety concerns, and increased cargo theft. While the scale differs, the takeaway is the same: safe, reliable parking is an essential piece of logistics infrastructure.
How Technology Is Bridging the Gap
Infrastructure investment takes years, if not decades, to deliver results. But technology is already bridging the gap. At Truck Parking Club, we’ve built a platform that connects drivers with underutilized lots, yards, and industrial spaces across the U.S.
The concept is simple: many property owners have space that goes unused at night or during off-peak hours. By making these spaces visible and reservable through a digital marketplace, we’re unlocking capacity that drivers desperately need.
For fleet managers, these tools mean:
- Real-time visibility. Drivers can reserve parking in advance, reducing downtime and uncertainty.
- Increased safety. Fleets know their trucks and cargo are parked in authorized, secure spaces.
- Improved compliance. Less wasted time searching for parking helps keep drivers within their Hours-of-Service limits.
- Better asset utilization. Every hour saved in parking searches can be reallocated to actual deliveries.
The technology is not a silver bullet, but it’s a practical step forward while long-term infrastructure projects take shape.
Why Fleet Managers Must Lead
Traditionally, parking has been treated as something for drivers to figure out on their own. But fleet managers are in the best position to influence change. By making parking a strategic priority, managers can reduce costs, strengthen safety records, and improve retention.
Photo by Christian Chen on Unsplash
Here are a few actions fleets can take today:
- Educate drivers on parking solutions. Ensure they’re aware of platforms that provide real-time parking availability.
- Incorporate parking into route planning. Don’t just map miles—map safe stopping points.
- Advocate for parking investment. Industry voices, especially from fleet management, are critical to push infrastructure forward.
- Gather driver feedback. Use their experiences to identify pain points and test solutions.
When managers elevate parking from a driver headache to a company priority, the results flow directly into operational performance.
Looking Ahead
The $100 billion figure is attention-grabbing, but it’s also avoidable. Truck parking doesn’t have to remain a systemic inefficiency. With the right mix of infrastructure and innovation, we can reduce wasted time, lower costs, and keep drivers safe.
As an industry, we often talk about autonomous vehicles, electric trucks, and digital freight platforms as the future of logistics. Those innovations are important, but they won’t deliver results if we can’t get the basics right. Parking is one of those basics.
Fleet managers who act now (by embracing parking technology, supporting their drivers, and advocating for infrastructure) will not only reduce costs but also set their fleets up for long-term resilience.
Author: Evan Shelley, Co-Founder & CEO of Truck Parking Club
