This month, if things all went as planned, the state of Indiana closed six rest areas.

The action was intended to help balance the state’s budget. And as always, transportation – an area of the budget that is supposed to be supported by dedicated taxes – is one of the first things to get a cut.

What’s more, truckers – who pay far more than their fair share of that dedicated set of taxes – are getting first crack at being screwed.

The rest areas are vital for them. Truckers all know well that they’re compelled to rest a certain number of hours each day, and when they’re out of driving time, they don’t have the luxury of driving around looking for available parking. They have to stop and stop now.

Yet here, in a state with a parking shortage, they’re closing rest areas.

Here’s something that makes even less sense: The state should have an extra $3.8 billion sitting around to pay for transportation needs. That’s how much they received for selling their toll road. And the money was supposed to be used for Major Moves, a transportation program.

With $3.8 billion in their pocket from the sale of their toll road, Indiana should still have a bundle in their pockets for transportation needs.

We have heard about some highway projects out of that program, but it does seem odd that only a few years after they received that massive bundle of cash, they’re claiming they don’t have enough money left to keep simple rest areas open.

When the federal highway system was set up, those spots were referred to as “safety rest areas.” Many states still refer to them that way.

Is Indiana saying that safety isn’t important? And since Indiana officials aren’t interested in doing what they’ve committed to in the area of safety, will they give a pass to other folks – like truckers – for what they’re committed to in that area?

I wouldn’t bet the logbook on that one. Truckers will still be expected to follow the Hours of Service to the letter – and take their required rest – even if there isn’t a single place in the state to do so.