VANCOUVER, Wash. – Truck drivers traveling along Interstate 5 in Washington state will soon have an easier time finding a place to rest, thanks to a new technology-based system launched by the Washington State Department of Transportation.
The Truck Parking Information Management System, or TPIMS, is designed to provide real-time and predictive data about parking availability at rest areas and weigh stations along I-5. The tool helps drivers plan up to four hours in advance and aims to reduce the time spent searching for safe, legal parking spots.
Nationwide, there is only one parking space for every 11 trucks on the road, and 75% of truck drivers in Washington report having trouble finding parking at least once a week. Drivers are also federally required to follow strict hours-of-service regulations, which means they often need to plan parking well before reaching their legal driving limits.
WSDOT partnered with the University of Washington’s STAR Lab to develop TPIMS. The system uses innovative algorithms to predict parking availability, making it one of the first of its kind in the country.
The program is funded by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program.
As of early September, TPIMS is active at the following nine locations, with two more sites expected to be online by the end of the month:
-
Gee Creek Rest Area northbound (milepost 11)
-
Gee Creek Rest Area southbound (milepost 12)
-
Maytown Rest Area (milepost 93)
-
Fort Lewis Weigh Station (milepost 117)
-
SeaTac Weigh Station (milepost 140)
-
Smokey Point Rest Area southbound (milepost 207)
-
Smokey Point Rest Area northbound (milepost 207)
-
Custer Rest Area northbound (milepost 267)
-
Custer Rest Area southbound (milepost 269)
-
Toutle River Rest Area northbound (milepost 54)
-
Ridgefield Weigh Station (milepost 15)
More locations will be added through 2026.
More about: