New DOT Rules Require States to Assess Truck Parking

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The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued new guidance that formalizes truck parking as a required element within state multimodal freight plans. States must now conduct comprehensive assessments of truck parking availability or risk losing their ability to spend National Highway Freight Program (NHFP) funds.

Why it matters

Adequate truck parking is a critical issue for the freight industry, as a lack of available spaces can force drivers to violate hours-of-service regulations or park unsafely. The new DOT rules aim to compel states to take a more proactive role in addressing this problem, which impacts both the efficiency and safety of the nation's supply chain.

The details

The 2026 DOT guidance, which goes into effect on Tuesday, states that if a state fails to develop a State Freight Plan that includes a comprehensive assessment of truck parking, they will not be able to obligate NHFP funds. This marks a significant shift from previous guidance, which only encouraged states to consider truck parking in their freight plans.

• The new DOT guidance goes into effect on Tuesday, February 25, 2026.

What’s next

States will now be required to complete comprehensive truck parking assessments as part of their State Freight Plan updates, which typically occur on a 4-year cycle. Failure to do so could result in the loss of critical federal funding for freight infrastructure projects.