Florida planning $54M truck parking expansion

$54M for truck parking expansion allocated for Florida's turnpike

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last week highlighted more than $20 billion in investments aimed at revitalizing Florida’s turnpike, including nearly $54 million to expand and improve truck parking across the system.

As part of the Florida Department of Transportation’s plan to widen the entire 320-mile Turnpike Mainline from South Florida to I-75 in Wildwood, every section of the Mainline across the state will be expanded to six or more lanes. Once complete, improvements will add more than 965 lane-miles of capacity to help reduce congestion, giving families more time together and less time in traffic, a press release from DeSantis’ office said.

FDOT has already added 384 lane-miles across Florida’s Turnpike System, including 179 lane miles along the Turnpike Mainline. The state’s more than $20 billion Mainline Widening initiative has been a major focus and is currently 55% complete.

“As Florida has grown, we have made major investments in our transportation infrastructure to reduce congestion and improve our roadways,” said DeSantis. “We’ve made significant investments in expanding lane capacity to relieve congestion all along the Turnpike. Today, I announced an additional investment to improve 19 restaurants and retail locations across six Turnpike service plazas. We will keep working to ensure that our roadways are safer, more convenient, and better-maintained than ever before.”

A $53.8 million investment to expand and improve nearly 150 parking spaces at the Turkey Lake and Ocoee Service Plazas additionally will provide truck drivers with new safe and reliable places to stop, eat and rest while supporting Florida’s supply chain, the state added.

The state received mixed truck parking reviews from truck drivers responding in Overdrive's 2025 Truckers' Highway Report Card survey. Florida was ranked by drivers as the No. 3 overall best state for truck parking availability, but also the eight-worst state for parking with an emphasis on the Miami region as particularly challenging for pay-to-park prevalence and other reasons.

DeSantis also highlighted recently updated food options, amenities, and other customer service enhancements at Turnpike service plazas, including renovated areas for new and refreshed vendors of Jimmy John’s, Zaxby’s, Vending Oasis, and Villa Pizza.

[Related: Florida breaks ground on new truck parking]

Canadian truck driver guilty of smuggling undocumented passenger

A Canadian citizen truck driver has pleaded guilty to bringing an alien to the United States, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

As previously reported, in the early morning hours of June 24, Khvicha Chalisuri, 63, was encountered at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry in Buffalo, New York, seeking entry to the United States in a commercial truck.

Chalisuri was asked if anyone else was in the truck and he said no. Chalisuri was then referred to X-ray to have the truck and cargo scanned. During the scan of the truck, an officer noticed Alexandru-Stefanita Iordache, a citizen and native of Romania, standing in the sleeper berth of the cab. He was removed from the truck.  

Subsequent investigation determined that Iordache, who was living in Canada, has no authorization for lawful entry to the United States. When questioned, Chalisuri claimed that Iordache was his codriver and that he was sleeping in the truck. However, Iordache was not listed on the manifest and was not presented to officers for inspection.

Iordache was previously convicted and sentenced.

Chalisuri’s sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 22 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York.

[Related: Canadian truck driver, passenger arrested at border for human smuggling]

Comdata launches integrated fuel card, factoring service

Comdata on Tuesday launched Comdata MAX, an integrated fuel card and freight factoring platform the company said gives fleets deep diesel discounts and fast invoice funding in a single, easy-to-use platform.

The company said the offering “eliminates the friction of managing two separate providers and helps fleets stay fueled and financially healthy on every run.”

"Fleets have been forced to juggle two sets of relationships, two platforms, and two sets of fees just to fuel their trucks and get paid on their loads. Comdata MAX ends that,” said Feras Chami, President and GM, Corpay North America Trucking. “We built this partnership with BridgeHaul to offer fleets one trusted app for everything that keeps their business moving with fuel savings and fast access to cash, together in one place."

As noted by Chami, Comdata has combined its expansive fuel network with the BridgeHaul factoring company's engine, allowing carriers to manage fuel spend and invoice funding side by side, with no setup fees, no truck-stop fees, and no long-term contracts locking them in.

Comdata’s fuel card offers nationwide acceptance with 6,000-plus discount locations with savings up to 50 cents per diesel gallon. Comdata MAX includes no monthly card fee, no set-up fee and no truck-stop fee, along with real-time fuel spend visibility, custom spend limits and controls by driver or truck.

On the factoring side, Comdata MAX includes no long-term contracts, no recourse, and no set-up fee with access to 14,000-plus pre-approved brokers and shippers. Customers can also choose how they get paid -- fuel card, Express Pay, or ACH direct to your bank. Same-day funding options are available on approved invoices. Customers also receive free credit checks on any broker before the haul.

Getting set up for the new program takes just three steps:

• Complete your application online
• Receive approval for both fuel and factoring quickly
• Download the Comdata MAX app to start fueling and factoring

[Related: How much will diesel go up tomorrow?]