Ohio Expands Truck Parking to Reduce Highway Crashes

Ohio’s New Initiative to Expand Truck Parking Spaces

Ohio is taking significant steps to improve road safety and support its growing economy by expanding truck parking spaces along state highways. Governor Mike DeWine and the state administration recently announced plans to build 1,400 new truck parking spaces across 33 locations throughout the state. This initiative is funded by $150 million from the state transportation budget approved earlier this year.

The project aims to address a critical issue: the shortage of safe places for truck drivers to rest. As Ohio's economy continues to grow, so does the number of trucks on the roads. By providing more accessible and safe parking options, the state hopes to reduce highway crashes and enhance roadside amenities for all drivers.

Strategic Locations Across Ohio

Three of the new sites will be located near Cleveland in Lake, Medina, and Summit counties. Each of these new parking areas will include lighting and bathroom facilities, ensuring that truckers have access to essential services. When completed, Ohio will have the most long-term truck parking spaces on state-owned property in the nation. Currently, the state has about 14,200 truck parking spaces, most of which are at privately owned truck stops or businesses.

Ohio ranks among the top states for interstate truck traffic. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, the state had the third-highest amount of interstate truck traffic as of 2021. In 2023, trucks logged 27.5 million miles on Ohio roads, and ODOT estimates that truck freight volume will increase by an additional 26% by 2045.

Addressing Safety Concerns

Safety remains a top priority for the state. Ohio had the eighth-most fatal large truck crashes—167—in 2023, according to data from the National Safety Council. Drowsy semi-truck drivers caused 689 crashes in Ohio since 2015, resulting in 345 injuries and two fatalities. A major contributing factor to these incidents is the lack of available truck parking spaces.

Nationwide, there is only one truck parking space for every 11 trucks on the road, according to the American Trucking Associations. Drivers who cannot find a place to park often end up driving drowsy or pulling over in unsafe areas such as highway shoulders and entrance and exit ramps.

Expanding Parking in Key Areas

The 33 new parking sites will be spread across 19 Ohio counties, mostly next to existing rest areas, weigh stations, and interchanges. In Northeast Ohio, the locations include:

• Summit County: Rest areas along Interstate 271 north- and southbound, as well as a vacant rest area along Interstate 77.
• Medina County: Along Interstate 71 at north- and southbound rest areas, as well as along Interstate 76 at an existing eastbound rest area and a vacant westbound rest area.
• Lake County: Along Interstate 90 at east- and westbound vacant rest areas.

Other new truck parking areas will be located in Allen, Ashland, Ashtabula, Auglaize, Belmont, Clermont, Fayette, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey, Henry, Mahoning, Ross, Warren, and Wyandot counties.

Funding and Implementation

The $150 million allocated for the new truck parking initiative comes from the state’s tax on motor fuel suppliers and ODOT operational savings. The exact cost of the project will depend on the construction contracts, which have yet to be awarded.

This initiative is part of a broader effort by ODOT and the DeWine administration to make truck driving safer in the state since 2019. Other efforts include revamping more than 30 highway rest areas, converting unused weigh stations and abandoned rest areas into truck parking spaces, and partnering with other states to offer real-time parking availability updates.