The state of Ohio plans to help truckers solve one of their most demanding problems: finding safe and secure pareking.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Pamela Boratyn Tuesday announced details of a new plan to address the shortage of accessible ruck parking in the state by adding at least 1,400 new truck parking spaces across the state.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with all work expected to be complete by the end of 2027, according to a statement from DeWine's office. Each site will include lighting and restroom facilities to support driver safety and comfort.
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Following an extensive review of ODOT property, Ohio has identified 33 sites in 19 counties where long-term truck parking lots will be created or expanded, more than doubling current truck parking capacity at ODOT-maintained sites.
The 33 new truck parking areas will be located in Allen, Ashland, Ashtabula, Auglaize, Belmont, Clermont, Fayette, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey, Henry, Lake, Mahoning, Medina, Ross, Summit, Warren, and Wyandot counties.
“As Ohio’s economy continues to grow, so do the number of trucks traveling on Ohio's network of interstates and state routes,” said DeWine. “By expanding safe, accessible places for drivers to rest, we’re supporting the people who keep our economy moving and making it safer for everyone on our roads.”
Ohio's commercial-truck parking plan is funded with $150 million from the current transportation budget.
Past efforts to improve truck parking in the state include:
- 2022: Conversion of more than a dozen unused weigh stations into truck parking areas, creating 144 new spaces.
- 2023: Announcement of a statewide initiative to re-imagine and modernize 36 rest areas, including 401 new truck parking spots.
- 2024: Transformation of two abandoned rest areas—in Preble and Trumbull counties—into dedicated truck parking, adding 138 spaces.
In total, there are currently around 14,200 truck parking spaces available statewide, with most located at privately owned truck stops or businesses.
