Arizona Pushes for Rest Area Reform
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and the Arizona Department of Transportation are pushing to change the way states operate rest areas without cutting into budgets for public safety services

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and the Arizona Department of Transportation are pushing to change the way states operate rest areas without cutting into budgets for public safety services.
ADOT Director John Halikowski led a discussion on rest area commercialization with transportation leaders from across the nation during the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials meeting recently. Arizona has been working to change federal policies they say penalize states with newer infrastructure by prohibiting privatization or partnerships to operate rest areas.
Last fall, ADOT announced plans to temporarily close 13 highway rest areas as part of efforts to address a $100 million budget shortfall.
Currently, only states with rest areas in operation before passage of the 1956 Interstate Highway Act are eligible to privatize, outsource or engage in public-private partnerships. Arizona has none of those options and, unlike East Coast states, has long stretches of open highway, some with few driver services. Other Western region state transportation departments are supporting Arizona's call for reform.
Arizona officials are working with its Congressional delegation and other states to seek changes in federal law to allow for alternative funding strategies and flexibility to use federal highway funds. For now, the operation of rest areas continues to be part of ADOT's operations budget, a fund already constrained to provide highway maintenance, customer service, law enforcement support and other public safety services.
"Rest areas are part of the nation's highway system. While vehicles have become more fuel efficient, safe and comfortable, drivers - including commercial drivers - still need opportunities to stop and rest in safe locations," Halikowski said. "Budget restrictions and dramatic declines in revenues mean that some difficult decisions have to be made in order to prioritize safety services. Arizona has been teased by the East Coast media as 'hanging up on Nature's call' or moving to install pay toilets. The truth is that all states need greater flexibility from the federal government to complete our mission - a mission that is diverse beyond rest areas."
A representative of NATSO, the organization representing travel plazas and truckstops, warned the meeting participants of the negative impacts rest area commercialization would have on local communities and small businesses that rely on Interstate highway traffic. The group maintains that privatization of rest areas would amount to unfair competition to existing businesses along Interstate highways.
NATSO has cited a University of Maryland study, first published in 1997 and updated in 2003, which found that commercialization has a chilling effect on interchange business development.
More Drivers

Prime Inc. to Open $7.9M Flagship Used-Truck Dealership
A new driver-focused facility to sell Prime Inc's used trucks and trailers will be the first purpose-built location in the company's history.
Read More →Short Takes: Inside K&B’s Truck Safety Tech
Listen to learn how K&B Transportation uses cellphone-blocking technology, speed management systems, weather geofencing, bridge avoidance tools, and more to improve driver safety.
Read More →
Nussbaum Expands Driver Compensation with Pay Raises, Profit Sharing
Nussbaum Transportation said its latest compensation package could push first-year driver earnings above $90,000 in key hiring markets.
Read More →Listen: Inside Modern Fleet Safety: AI, Cameras & Speed Control at K&B Transportation
Fleet safety is evolving fast—and technology is at the center of it. Learn how a former commercial vehicle enforcement officer turned director of safety at K&B Transportation is embracing real-world safety technology.
Read More →
Maverick Announces 2026 Driver Pay Raises
New raises for Maverick Transportation drivers will take effect on May 31, 2026.
Read More →
Illinois Trucker Indicted for Nearly $22,000 in Ohio Turnpike Toll Evasion
Authorities say an Illinois trucker avoided paying tolls for two years, and now faces felony charges, possible prison time, and forfeiture of his Freightliner tractor.
Read More →
New Trojan Driver Cargo Theft Scam Bypasses Carrier Vetting Systems
Cargo theft rings plant operatives as drivers inside legitimate, fully vetted carriers, then execute coordinated thefts that look like a traditional straight theft from the outside.
Read More →
WIM, Trucker Path Name Top 3 Women-Friendly Truck Stops
ATA’s Women In Motion Council and Trucker Path highlight three truck stops that meet all seven safety-focused criteria and rank highest among female drivers.
Read More →
FMCSA Extends Paper Medical Card Exemption … Again
Five states still aren't ready to accept commercial driver medical exam information directly from the medical examiner's registry.
Read More →
Mack Launches Digital Driver Guide for Chassis-Specific Truck Info
Mack’s new, virtual owner’s manual delivers VIN-based, on-demand guidance for vehicle systems via web, app, and soon in-cab displays.
Read More →
