There may soon be a ban on where people can park their large trucks in the city of Nashville. Metro Councilwoman Tasha Ellis from District 29 is proposing an ordinance that would restrict the parking of box trucks, food trucks, and food trailers. The new proposal would prohibit them from parking on city streets and alleys. It also updates a current city law by lowering the allowable truck weight from 18,000 pounds to 10,000 pounds.
Residents across Nashville have increasingly raised concerns about trucks being parked and left along the sides of roads. Councilwoman Ellis explained that food trucks are not even mentioned in the current code. She noted that large vehicles parking on the streets create obstructions and block traffic.
This issue has been exacerbated by the closure of the TA Travel Center in downtown Nashville in 2023. That rest stop had been a popular and dedicated stop for truck drivers. Now, drivers head to a location in Antioch that is often overcrowded, forcing some to park in unauthorized places. One truck driver, Scottie Blash, described how in Georgia he could use exit ramps to rest, but in Tennessee there are few rest stops and most are full. He says that results in unsafe parking situations.
Another driver, Skeeter Markel, recounted an experience when he parked in an unauthorized spot because he was too tired to continue driving and could not find a rest stop. He was woken up by an officer and threatened with a ticket. The officer told him he either had to move his truck or receive a fine. Now, Markel adjusts his schedule and starts shifts earlier to avoid overnight parking. Drivers say there needs to be more rest stops available in the area.
