NEW TOOLS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST TRUCK DRIVER ACCESS TO REST AREA PARKING ON WASHINGTON’S I-5

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is assisting truck drivers on Washington’s Interstate 5 corridor with a new program called the Truck Parking Information Management System (TPIMS) to help them find parking and weigh stations along the corridor. TPIMS will assist truck drivers with parking plans up to four hours in advance of arrival to allow for more efficiency since they are electronically monitored to ensure they do not exceed their allotted driving hours. Nationwide, for every eleven trucks, there is only one space and 75% of Washington’s truck drivers report problems finding safe parking at least once a week.

In partnership with WSDOT, the University of Washington Star Lab is providing groundbreaking real time, predictive information on available parking. Also, Drivewyze and ParkerTruck will have information via mobile apps or in-cab displays. All three vendor websites include details to access TPIMS.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has provided funding for this program through the Freight Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the federal Infrastructure for Rebuilding America. Currently, the technology is available at the locations below and additional locations will be added throughout 20226.

• Gee Creek Rest Area northbound (north of Vancouver, milepost 11)
• Gee Creek Rest Area southbound (south of Woodland, milepost 12)
• Maytown Rest Area (south of Olympia, milepost 93)
• Fort Lewis Weigh Station (near DuPont, milepost 117)
• SeaTac Weigh Station (between Fife and Federal Way, milepost 140)
• Smokey Point Rest Area southbound (south of Mount Vernon, milepost 207)
• Smokey Point Rest Area northbound (north of Marysville, milepost 207)
• Custer Rest Area northbound (north of Bellingham, milepost 267)
• Custer Rest Area southbound (south of Blaine, milepost 269)
• Toutle River Rest Area northbound (north of Castle Rock, milepost 54)
• Ridgefield Weigh Station (north of Ridgefield, milepost 15)

Please let WSDOT know how the program is working or how it can be improved by completing a survey here.

Interested in receiving email updates on truck parking, go here.