Interstate rest areas are certainly not the most glamorous places to pull over and, umm, take care of business. But after hours of hauling truck loads over exhausting distances, many truckers find them not only welcome but safe and legal places to recharge – especially in order to comply with hours of service regulations. For some truckers, the loss of these rest areas may mean sleeping in unsafe areas so they can get in their legally required breaks.

Earlier this week, 18 out of 42 safety rest areas closed in Virginia due to budget cuts. How do freight truckers feel about the closures? Well, you tell us! The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association has been against shuttering rest areas in Virginia, as has the American Trucking Associations, but the state is trying to make accommodations elsewhere for truckers. At the urging of trucking organizations like OOIDA and AMA, the Virginia Department of Transportation has added 225 legal parking spaces at the remaining open rest stops to offset the loss of parking at the closed facilities. VDOT has also expanded the length of time truckers can stay put; they’ll now be able to rest for 10 hours, instead of 2 hours, which was the limit before.

Virginia isn’t the only state shutting down its rest stops. Louisiana, Indiana, Colorado, Maine, and Vermont have boarded up rest areas in the last year, while Tennessee, Arizona, and Rhode Island are all considering that option as a cost-saving measure. Texas, meanwhile, is actually investing in upgrades to its rest stops, adding internet kiosks with Wi-Fi access so truckers can check their email.

What has been your experience out on the highway with fewer rest stops? Have you missed them? Or have you been able to find safe and legal places to park and rest elsewhere?