Truckers and Travelers

Hello, Fellow Drivers,  Here is an update from the Owner Operators Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA). 

More than 40% of truck drivers responding to a recent survey indicated that they had either had “close calls” or had actually been a victim of violence while parked.  OOIDA is passionately working to increase available safe truck parking for America’s drivers and looking at all possible solutions to that end. 
 
Currently OOIDA is working at gaining Congressional support for Jason’s Law (H.R. 2156 and S. 971), or expanding SAFETEA LU’s $25 million set-aside, “Truck Parking Pilot Program”.  The last administration decided to re-designate “Truck Parking Pilot Program” money to the “Corridors of the Future” program.  By the end of last year, the “Corridors of the Future” program provided a total of $11 million to two small truck parking projects (I-5 and I-95).  Jason’s Law is a bigger program ($120 million) and politically unopposed.  Due to its price tag and current political dynamics related to transportation legislation, it is unlikely that this bill will pass a vote on the House and Senate on its own, so in addition to urging lawmakers to cosponsor H.R. 2156/S. 97,1 we are pushing transportation leadership to attach this bill to the Surface Transportation Authorization Act (STAA). 
 
Additionally OOIDA is supporting Concealed Carry Reciprocity (S. 845), allows individuals with conceal carry privileges to conceal carry in any other states that also allows conceal and carry, so that drivers can protect themselves and their cargo when they most need it – when they are on the road, parked for rest in unsafe areas, and away from the security of their home.  Concealed Carry Bill nearly made it on the must-pass Defense Authorization Bill on the Senate, only missing 2 votes, in July.  Much of the support, we heard, is due to the proactive drivers that called in support of this bill.  This bill is not dead though and Senators are going to be looking for upcoming vehicles for it.
 
Available safe truck parking dwindles and will continue to do so without legislative help.   Be safe out there!