Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Committee hears about big truck parking problems along I-30

Those who travel Interstate 30 at night will not be surprised to find that the state is looking for ways to alleviate big truck parking issues. Parking and safety for large trucks were discussed during a joint meeting of the Arkansas Legislature and State Department of Public Transportation held at University of Arkansas Community College at Hope Thursday.

The discussion of the big truck parking began with a question directed at Ron Burks of the Arkansas Highway Police. Burks was asked if members of the highway patrol had conducted sting operations in which they targeted trucks that were parked in areas not designated for truck parking.

Burks denied the allegation, saying that patrol often told trucks to move but had never conducted an organized sting for that purpose.

A study has indicated a shortage of designated parking places for big trucks along the states Interstate system.

We recognize its a problem, said Dan Flowers of the Arkansas Highway Department. Something needs to be done in the future to address it.

Flowers said there are several reasons illegal truck parking is a problem. The potential for accidents is at the top of that list, but not the only problem that occurs when trucks park along the side of the road, on off ramps or in other illegal areas.

Another problem is that Interstate shoulders are not made to withstand the weight of tractor-trailer rigs and the state pays out some $260,000 annually for repairs. He likened the problem to litter, saying that the highway department fixes one area only to be faced with new damage.

One issue facing the truck drivers is federal requirements for downtime. Drivers are to be parked for a specific period of time, meaning drivers must find a place to park.

Another problem, Flowers said, is that residents dont want trucks parked nearby. Litter and health hazards often exist in areas where trucks park.

Flowers said there are some options, including a couple of rest areas that have been closed. He said a parking area for 60 trucks could be constructed on property owned by the highway department west of Hope on Interstate 30 - an area thats in need of additional parking places. Flowers said paved on and off ramps and a g ravel lot would cost $1.4 million.

On the topic of safety, Flowers said there is federal money available for safety programs, and said he plans to apply.

Lane Kidd, president of the Arkansas Truckers Association, and Gary Salisbury, senior vice-president of Fikes Trucking of Hope addressed the board regarding a safety campaign waged by Fikes.

Other points made during the meeting include:

* Trucks account for 10 percent of fatal accidents - slightly above the national average but below that of neighboring states.

* The state is implementing programs to ensure trucks are safe to operate.

* While truckers can be fined for failure to maintain a vehicle, the bigger penalty is an out of service, which means the truck cant be moved until the problem is fixed.