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House Panel Advances $200 Million for Truck Parking
FMCSA Would Receive $926.6 Million Under FY27 Transportation Funding Bill
Key Takeaways:
- House Appropriations Committee advanced a fiscal 2027 transportation funding bill June 3 that includes $200 million for nationwide truck parking expansion.
- If enacted, DOT would route the money through its major freight projects program as trucking groups cite safety and efficiency risks from parking shortages.
- The bill would provide $92.2 billion overall and now awaits House floor consideration while the Senate prepares its version before August recess.
WASHINGTON — House appropriators advanced a fiscal 2027 transportation funding bill June 3 that includes $200 million to expand truck parking capacity nationwide.
Approved by the Republican-led Appropriations Committee, the measure would fund the Department of Transportation through the upcoming fiscal year and direct truck parking investments to improve highway safety.
If enacted, the truck parking funding would be administered via DOT’s Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight and Highway Projects program, a key source of financing for major freight infrastructure projects. Addressing truck parking shortages has been a long-standing priority for industry stakeholders, who point to safety and efficiency concerns tied to limited parking availability.
“The legislation approved by the House Appropriations Committee represents a meaningful step toward addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing our industry,” American Trucking Associations President Chris Spear said. “By advancing common-sense policies that strengthen safety, combat cargo theft and fraud and support enforcement, this bill reflects a growing recognition in Washington that a strong trucking industry is essential to our economy and a resilient supply chain.
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Spear
“ATA would also like to thank House Appropriators for prioritizing a significant investment to alleviate the severe shortage of truck parking, which is a persistent safety concern for drivers,” Spear continued.
The House legislation outlines funding levels across major transportation agencies, including $926.6 million for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; $64.5 billion for the Federal Highway Administration; $3 billion for the Federal Railroad Administration; $16.5 billion for the Federal Transit Administration; $1.4 billion for the Maritime Administration; and $1.2 billion for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Overall, the bill would provide $92.2 billion in discretionary funding for transportation and housing programs.
The measure emphasizes traditional infrastructure priorities such as highways and bridges and includes provisions aimed at workforce recruitment, particularly for air traffic controllers.
Steve Womack (R-Ark.), chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, said the bill “builds on that reputation of excellence by investing in the modernization of our national airspace system, providing resources to properly maintain and improve our roads, bridges and railways, and giving vulnerable Americans the resources they need to keep a roof over their heads — setting them up for future success.”
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Womack and Cole
Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said the proposal is intended to strengthen national connectivity and safety for both travelers and freight operators.
“Whether on our highways, in our ports, across our waterways or through our skies, the measure reinforces the networks that keep America safely connected and competitive,” Cole said. “It further supports local development efforts and assistance for vulnerable Americans, ensuring communities have the resources to grow, adapt and thrive.”
Democrats on the committee largely opposed the measure. Ranking member Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) said it would cut key investments in housing and transportation while failing to address affordability concerns.
The bill now awaits consideration on the House floor, while the Senate is expected to take up its version before the August recess. Current funding authority for most federal agencies expires Oct. 1, raising the prospect of a shutdown if lawmakers do not clear such appropriations measures for the White House.
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Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed funding legislation that also included $200 million for truck parking projects. The Federal Highway Administration is overseeing those funds, which are aimed at improving safety and freight efficiency along key corridors.
Trucking groups touted the latest House action.
“Rep. Womack’s leadership on critical issues like truck parking reflects a deep understanding of the challenges facing the men and women who keep America’s economy moving,” Arkansas Trucking Association President Shannon Newton said.
