More Truck Parking Planned Along I-70 in Missouri — Progress, But Let’s Not Pretend the Problem Is Solved

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

Every now and then, trucking gets a headline that isn’t about crashes, closures, or drivers being stranded for half a day.

This is one of those rare moments.

Missouri officials have announced plans to add more truck parking along Interstate 70, a major east-west freight corridor that’s been choking under parking shortages for years.

Sounds like good news, right?

It is.
But this is Hervy’s Report Better News, so we’re not stopping at the press release.

What Missouri Is Planning (Plain English Version)

Along I-70 in Missouri, transportation officials are moving forward with plans to:

Expand existing rest areas

Add new truck-only parking spaces

Reduce shoulder and ramp parking

Improve safety on one of the Midwest’s busiest freight routes

I-70 isn’t just another highway. It’s a freight artery that moves food, retail goods, manufacturing freight, and just about everything else that keeps shelves stocked from coast to coast.

For truckers, more parking here means fewer desperate decisions at the end of a long day.

Why This Is Even News (And Why That’s a Problem)

Let’s be honest.

Adding truck parking should not be newsworthy.
It should be automatic.

But after decades of ignoring the problem, the industry has reached a point where any new parking feels like a victory.

Drivers already know the routine:

Rest areas full by late afternoon

Truck stops overflowing by dinner time

Ramps and shoulders becoming “emergency parking”

Tickets, warnings, and blame landing on drivers

So when Missouri says, “We’re adding parking,” drivers hear:
“At least someone finally admitted we exist.”

That’s not celebration — that’s relief.

Why I-70 Is Ground Zero for the Parking Crisis

I-70 cuts straight through the middle of Missouri, connecting major freight markets east and west. It carries:

Long-haul OTR trucks

Regional distribution traffic

Through-freight that doesn’t start or end in Missouri

That combination creates a perfect storm:
Heavy volume + limited stopping options.

When parking runs out, drivers are forced into impossible choices:

Park illegally and risk tickets

Drive tired and risk lives

Burn hours searching for a spot that doesn’t exist

None of those options are safe.
All of them are blamed on drivers.

What This Means for Drivers (The Part That Actually Matters)

More parking along I-70 could mean:

Safer shutdowns

Less stress racing the clock

Fewer HOS violations

Fewer late-night parking gambles

That’s real progress.

But let’s not pretend a few projects fix a nationwide problem.

Truck parking shortages are measured in tens of thousands of spaces, not hundreds.

This helps — but it doesn’t solve.

The Bigger Industry Truth Nobody Likes to Say

Here’s the uncomfortable reality:

The trucking system depends on drivers working within rules that the infrastructure doesn’t support.

We tell drivers:

Don’t drive tired

Follow HOS rules

Park legally

Then we give them nowhere to park.

That contradiction is why parking keeps showing up in headlines, studies, and tragedy reports.

Missouri adding parking is a step forward — but it also highlights how far behind the entire system still is.

Multiple Perspectives (Because This Isn’t Black & White)

From the state’s view:
Infrastructure upgrades take time, money, and planning.

From carriers’ view:
Parking shortages hurt productivity and compliance.

From drivers’ view:
This problem should’ve been addressed decades ago.

All three can be true — and still not enough.

Why Smart Drivers Read Stories Like This Differently

When drivers see news about parking expansions, many think:
“Good — maybe things are finally changing.”

And maybe they are.

But experienced drivers also know:
Infrastructure moves slow. Bills don’t.

That’s why more truckers are thinking beyond just:

Finding the next parking spot

Running the next load

Hoping the system improves

They’re thinking about options, especially income options that don’t depend on where they can legally shut down that night.

Not quitting trucking — but not being trapped by it either.

The Bottom Line (Read This Twice)

More truck parking planned along I-70 in Missouri is a good thing.

It improves safety.
It reduces stress.
It acknowledges a real problem.

But it’s also a reminder that truckers have been forced to operate inside a broken system for far too long.

Progress is welcome — but preparedness is still personal.

Smart drivers celebrate improvements and build backup plans.

Call to Action:
👉 If you want to learn how truckers are building income online while off duty — so your entire livelihood isn’t tied to parking availability, weather, or infrastructure failures — visit offdutymoney.com

(And if you’re newer to the industry or want straight-talk trucking info, you’ll always find that at lifeasatrucker.com.)