Truck parking rarely makes headlines, but it has become one of the most persistent operational challenges facing transport fleets. The issue is not unique to North America. In Australia, fleet operators and industry bodies have been raising similar concerns for years—particularly around safety, compliance, and productivity.
Speaking earlier this year at Geotab Connect 2026 in Las Vegas, Emily Williams, Associate Vice President, Transportation Business Development at Geotab, described truck parking as a critical constraint on efficiency and driver wellbeing in the United States.
For many fleets, the problem is simple: there are more trucks on the road than safe places to stop.
A shortage that affects safety and productivity
Truck parking shortages create ripple effects across fleet operations. Drivers spend valuable time searching for available spaces, schedules are disrupted, and fatigue risks increase when suitable rest areas are not available.
Williams pointed to a statistic that highlights the scale of the problem. “There’s about one space to every 11 drivers,” she said.
That imbalance forces drivers to make difficult decisions about where and when to stop, particularly when approaching mandatory rest breaks under fatigue management regulations.
The situation mirrors challenges in Australia, where long distances between facilities and growing freight volumes have placed additional pressure on rest areas along major transport corridors.
Planning breaks is becoming as important as planning routes
Williams believes the industry needs to rethink how trips are planned. Instead of treating rest breaks as an afterthought, fleets are starting to integrate parking availability into route planning.
The goal is to ensure drivers can complete their journeys safely and on schedule.
“How can we use data to help solve that issue?” she said. “If you can plan your trip and make sure that you need to take your hours-of-service break shortly after, where can I find that space now?”
Technology is playing an increasing role in this process. Telematics systems can analyse trip data, estimate arrival times, and identify suitable stopping locations before drivers reach critical fatigue thresholds.
This shift from reactive to proactive planning is becoming essential for maintaining compliance and productivity.
Safe facilities matter as much as available spaces
Availability alone is not enough. Drivers also need facilities that are secure, well-lit, and suitable for rest. Williams emphasised that safety considerations are central to the truck parking conversation.
“Having safe facilities that they can go to and make sure they get their proper rest—that’s a big issue right now,” she said.
In Australia, this concern is particularly relevant for operators managing long-distance freight routes. Inadequate rest facilities can lead to fatigue-related incidents, increased compliance risk, and reduced driver satisfaction.
For Fleet Managers, the availability of safe parking is increasingly viewed as part of the organisation’s duty of care under Chain of Responsibility obligations.
A productivity issue hiding in plain sight
Truck parking shortages are often discussed as an infrastructure problem, but Williams sees them as a productivity issue as well.
When drivers spend time searching for parking, vehicles are not moving, deliveries are delayed, and operating costs increase.
The impact may not be immediately visible in financial reports, but it affects utilisation and service reliability. Williams believes better data and planning can help reduce these inefficiencies.
By analysing travel patterns and identifying high-demand locations, fleets can make more informed decisions about routes, schedules, and delivery windows.
A shared challenge for the transport industry
The truck parking shortage is unlikely to be solved quickly. Infrastructure investment takes time, and freight demand continues to grow.
But Williams is optimistic that improved planning and technology can help fleets manage the problem more effectively. Her message to operators is pragmatic: treat parking as a core operational risk, not a secondary inconvenience.
In both the United States and Australia, the ability to secure safe and reliable rest locations is becoming a defining factor in fleet performance.
And as freight volumes increase, the hidden productivity problem of truck parking is becoming harder to ignore.
