Every trucker knows that locating a parking spot in many states is the trucking equivalent to finding a needle in a haystack. But what if the satellite radio receiver on your dash took care of this tedious task for you?

Although not quite ready for the market, XM Satellite Radio announced last week its concept system, called “Dynamic Parking Information,” which would provide motorists with up-to-date information on the number of available parking spaces in any given parking lot.

According to Newsday, the system relies on special sensors, many of which are already in use in parking structures for other tracking purposes, to compute an exact number or a percentage of spaces available in the lot. The information would then be relayed to the driver’s dashboard display, most likely using XM’s existing satellite service.

“When you start thinking about what drivers need, the three things on top of the list are traffic, weather and parking,” Roderick MacKenzie, XM vice president of advance applications and services, told Newsday. “Those are kind of natural areas to focus on.”

Although the announcement did not specifically make mention of using the system at truck stops or rest areas for trucks, such a move would not be unlikely for XM. Ken Johnson, program director for XM’s Open Road Channel 171, told Land Line that although the number of XM listeners who are truckers is not available, Open Road – the provider’s only trucking-specific channel – does keep its listeners’ attentions for the longest.

“Of all the XM channels, Open Road currently has the highest time spent listening,” Johnson said.