Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025:
- What truckers and the U.S. economy lose with the truck parking shortage -- prominent economist puts a big dollar figure on it.
- Mack Pioneers are rolling off the assembly line. One small fleet owner's soon to get the first look at his own.
- Graduating, budding diesel techs are in high demand, for certain. Some call it a shortage. Kenworth/WyoTech hope a new partnership helps "ensure exceptional service" for customers long-term.
Truck parking shortage costs trucking $100B annually: study
A new study commissioned by the Truck Parking Club company and conducted by transportation economist Noel Perry quantifies the truck parking shortage, finding a cost of $100 billion annually incurred by truckers specifically, more broadly the U.S. economy itself.
Truck drivers need 2.4 million parking spots suitable for rest across the U.S. highway system, the study found, yet there are only 697,000 spots available to them. The study did identify, however, that there are actually 23.4 million parking spaces suitable for heavy-duty trucks in the U.S.; but 98% of them are private and reserved for specific fleets.
The disparity between available truck parking spaces and the number of spaces needed, truck drivers, Perry said, “make the best of a bad situation” using “a combination of off-highway and informal on-highway spaces to get their required rest." The solutions means "extra mileage and extra time," both of which come with a cost.
Fifteen miles of "circuity," Perry noted, "costs the driver $59 between the operating costs and lost time. If a driver stops an hour early to snag an available space, it costs them $110.”
[Related: Ohio truck parking expansion plan will add 1,400 spaces]
Across the industry, inefficiencies translate to annual costs of $37.7 billion in extra miles searching for parking and more than $82 billion in lost productivity as drivers are parked in the wrong place at the wrong time, unable to maximize their federally allowed driving hours.
The report breaks down truck parking supply and demand dynamics, likewise geography, and offers clear recommendations to improve the truck parking problem:
- Build more parking spaces, which is ideal, but slow and expensive
- Allow and/or create more legal parking spaces, such as at diners, stores, carrier operating centers, and especially by using spaces provided by customers
- Provide real-time information about the availability of legal parking spaces
- Provide reservations for legal parking spaces
- Improve decision-making among carriers and shippers about the importance of using the right legal parking spaces
- Coordinate supply chain timing to reduce truck waiting time
The full study can be downloaded here.
[Related: NIMBY, other concerns limiting state acquisition of land for truck parking]
Mack begins production of new Pioneer model
The state-of-the-art LVO facility, which has been producing Mack trucks for more than four decades, has been specially prepared to manufacture the Pioneer alongside existing Mack models.Mack Trucks
No, that's not 2024 Overdrive Small Fleet Champ finalist and Hell Bent Xpress owner Jamie Hagen's first Mack Pioneer in the picture, released alongside Mack's Wednesday announcement that production of the all-new Pioneer is under way at its Lehigh Valley Operations (LVO) manufacturing facility in Macungie, Pennsylvania.
"Mine is a nice shade of orange," Hagen said. "I wanted to step out of the ordinary and grab some attention. It just got completed, and I'm hoping to see it real soon."
Hagen's actuallly ordered six of the units, Mack noted, among the first customers.
“The time I spent in the Pioneer left me with quite an impression,” Hagen said. “I love the truck from top to bottom, inside and out. The level of efficiency and comfort this new truck brings sets a standard others will only hope to achieve. I can’t wait to have our entire fleet moving freight with happier drivers and more money to the bottom line. Once you’ve driven one, you will never want to go back to anything else.”
[Related: Most iconic Mack truck through history? We asked, you answered]
The new Pioneer highway model, unveiled in April, represents significant advancement in Mack’s long-haul offerings, the company said, combining aerodynamic performance, driver comfort and fuel efficiency.
“Starting production of the Pioneer at our Lehigh Valley facility is a proud moment for our entire team,” said Stephen Roy, president, Mack Trucks. “Our skilled workforce has embraced the advanced manufacturing processes required for this next-generation truck, ensuring every Pioneer that rolls off the line meets Mack’s legendary standards for quality and durability.”
[Related: First full look: Up-close with the new Mack Pioneer tractor]
Kenworth partners with WyoTech to address diesel tech shortage
The U.S. diesel technician shortage remains a critical issue, with more than 40,000 job openings annually and fewer than 11,000 technicians graduating from training programs each year, according to the American Transportation Research Institute. Kenworth
Kenworth recently announced a new partnership with WyoTech, a diesel technician training school, to launch the Kenworth NextTech program, a hands-on training initiative designed to address the shortage of skilled diesel technicians.
The program was unveiled during Kenworth Day at WyoTech in Laramie, Wyoming, which featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony, guided campus tours, unveiling of Kenworth-branded wall art, and a meet-and-greet with students and dealer representatives.
Through this partnership, Kenworth and WyoTech aim to build a stronger, more prepared workforce of Kenworth-certified technicians.
“The Kenworth NextTech program will build a strong pipeline of trained technicians with hands-on experience working with Kenworth’s advanced trucks and powertrains,” said Kevin Haygood, Kenworth’s assistant general manager for sales and marketing. “Through our collaboration with WyoTech, the Kenworth NextTech program will be key to creating a sustainable workforce for our dealers and ensure exceptional service for our customers.”
The Kenworth NextTech program, available to any enrolled WyoTech student, provides access to the same training and proprietary service tools used by Kenworth dealership technicians across North America. The new program will provide students with:
- Free access to Kenworth Essentials dealer technician training modules
- Enrollment in instructor-led certification courses covering Kenworth Service Systems, Kenworth Electrical Systems, and Kenworth Diagnostics
- Kenworth trucks, equipped with Paccar MX engines and powertrains
- Paccar MX engines and MX engine tool kits
- Kenworth’s DAVIE4 diagnostic service tools and software licensing
- A WyoTech-dedicated Kenworth program manager
Students participating in the Kenworth NextTech program will train using real-world tools in a simulated shop environment and graduate with Kenworth certifications – better preparing them to contribute from day one at a Kenworth dealership.
