State To Develop System For Helping Trucks Find Rest Area Parking

Wisconsin is one of eight states sharing a $25 million grant aimed at making it easier for commercial truck drivers find parking at rest areas.

Daniel Yeh, a Wisconsin Department of Transportation federal liaison, said safe truck parking is a major issue. He said if waysides are full, truckers are forced to either park on roadsides or keep driving in search of a spot to rest.

With the help of the new U.S. Department of Transportation grant, Wisconsin plans to create a real-time truck parking information system. Yeh said the system will alert drivers of parking through electronic signs, mobile apps and websites.

“We want to make sure that all truckers are working within their hours of service and then getting their proper number of hours of rest as per federal laws,” he said.

Wisconsin is expected to get around $2 million to install electronic infrastructure and signs at major waysides along Interstate 94 from Kenosha to Dunn counties.