Southern Illinois News

Mike Bost, representative for Illinois' 12th Congressional District, has introduced the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act to address the national shortage of parking for large trucks. This shortage, he says, affects both the supply chain and roadway safety.

"Our nation is facing a serious parking shortage for big trucks, and it's making our roads less safe and impacting our supply chain," said Bost, U.S. Representative, according to Facebook. "My Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act will help solve this problem."

Following an investigation into a deadly crash on Interstate 70 in Highland, Illinois, Bost announced a bipartisan bill to fund the construction of commercial truck parking facilities. "I’ve screamed this from a mountaintop for years on how important this bill is, so my hope is that all members in the House understand, and the Senate understands it as well," Bost told Fox2Now. The news outlet reported that while the primary cause of the July 12 crash was a tired bus driver, three tractor-trailers illegally parked on an exit ramp shoulder near a rest area also contributed to the incident.

Screenshot of U.S. Rep. Mike Bost's May 26 Facebook post | U.S. Rep. Mike Bost's Facebook page

According to Bost's office, his bill directs the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide competitive grants to states, metropolitan planning organizations, tribal governments, and local governments. These grants aim to fund public parking for commercial motor vehicles and improve safety for their drivers. The bill specifies that grant recipients cannot charge truck drivers to use any facilities constructed under this program.

This legislation was previously approved by the House Transportation Committee during the last Congress but did not receive a vote in the full House. Bost has reintroduced it with hopes that it will be included in the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill that the House will consider later this year.

Bost has represented Illinois’ 12th District since January 6, 2015. A lifelong Murphysboro resident, he has extensive experience in state politics and served as the House Republican Caucus Chair in the Illinois State House of Representatives for two decades. He is also a former U.S. Marine Corps member and worked at Bost Trucking Service before joining the Murphysboro Fire Department after completing training at the University of Illinois’ Certified Firefighter II Academy in 1993.