Florida truck parking project spotlights I-4 safety risk

Florida is building a $29.4 million truck parking facility near Plant City as officials warn that shortages push truckers into unsafe roadside stops on I-4. The project is meant to add 160 spaces and reduce hazards for drivers traveling through Tampa Bay and Polk County.

Why it matters: - Florida’s new truck parking project is aimed at a safety problem that affects more than truckers. When commercial drivers cannot find legal parking, roadside shoulders, ramps and vacant lots can become hazards for everyone on I-4. - The I-4 corridor is one of the state’s busiest freight routes, linking Tampa Bay, Polk County and Central Florida.

What happened: - The Florida Department of Transportation is building a $29.4 million truck parking facility at I-4 and County Line Road near Plant City. - The 49-acre site will include 160 dedicated truck parking spaces. - FDOT expects the project to be completed in late 2026. - The facility sits near the Hillsborough–Polk county line. - Brooks Law Group attorney Steve Brooks said the project highlights an overlooked highway safety issue tied to where trucks stop, not only how they drive.

The details: - FDOT says truck parking shortages can force drivers to search for spaces or stop in unsafe locations, including interstate shoulders, entrance and exit ramps, and vacant lots. - Federal transportation officials estimate that about 40% of truck drivers nationwide spend more than an hour each day looking for parking. - That search can make it harder for drivers to comply with federal hours-of-service rules, which limit driving time and require rest periods. - In June, FDOT said a $180 million federal infrastructure grant would support 917 additional truck parking spaces along the I-4 corridor. - Federal transportation officials identified that corridor as having the highest unmet truck parking demand in Florida. - The County Line Road facility is designed to connect to Florida’s Truck Parking Availability System, which shows real-time parking availability through mobile technology and electronic roadside signs. - The project also includes ramp modifications, traffic signal changes, turning lanes, roadway lighting, signage and other infrastructure to handle commercial truck movements. - A separate proposal would add six electric truck charging spaces at the site with about $24.7 million in federal funding. - That proposal is scheduled for consideration by the Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization on October 14.

Between the lines: - The project reflects a broader shift in road safety planning: safer freight movement depends not only on enforcement and driver behavior, but also on infrastructure that gives truckers legal places to stop. - For motorists, the risk is indirect but real. Trucks parked in the wrong place can block sight lines, narrow lanes and create conflict points near ramps and merge areas. - Brooks said safe parking can help prevent crashes before they happen, especially on a corridor where large commercial vehicles and passenger cars mix constantly.

What’s next: - FDOT will continue construction on the Plant City facility ahead of the late-2026 target. - The Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization will consider the electric truck charging proposal on October 14. - The broader I-4 parking expansion funded by the federal grant is expected to add capacity elsewhere along the corridor.

The bottom line: - Florida is treating truck parking as a safety issue, not just a logistics problem. The new facility near Plant City is meant to give truck drivers a safe place to stop and reduce roadside risks for everyone on I-4.