Commercial Vehicle Driver Survey: Assessment of Parking Needs and Preferences

This report provides detailed technical documentation supporting the Report to Congress on the study called for in Section 4027 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century to “determine the location and quantity of parking facilities as commercial truck stops and travel plazas and public rest areas that could be used by motor carriers to comply with Federal hours of service rules.” The report details the methodology and results of a survey administered to commercial truck drivers on their parking needs and preferences.

NOTICE

This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The United States Government assumes no liability for its contents or use thereof. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.

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1. Report No. FHWA-RD-01-160	2. Government Accession No.	3. Recipient's Catalog No.
4. Title and Subtitle COMMERCIAL VEHICLE DRIVER SURVEY: ASSESSMENT OF PARKING NEEDS AND PREFERENCES		5. Report Date March 2002
		6. Performing Organization Code
7. Author(s) Kathryn J. Chen, Kelley K. Pécheux, John Farbry, Jr., and Stephen A. Fleger		8. Performing Organization Report No.
9. Performing Organization Name and Address Science Applications International Corporation 8301 Greensboro Drive McLean, VA 22102		10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)
		11. Contract or Grant No. DTFH61-98-C-00059
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address Federal Highway Administration Office of Safety Research and Development (HRDS) 6300 Georgetown Pike McLean, Virginia 22101-2296		13. Type of Report and Period Covered Final Report October 1999 – April 2001
		14. Sponsoring Agency Code
15. Supplementary Notes Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative: Raymond A. Krammes, HRDS; M. Joseph Moyer, HRDS
16. Abstract This research assessed truck driver parking needs and preferences in accordance with Section 4027 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century. A survey was conducted to determine how truck drivers plan for and address their parking needs; how truck drivers select when, where, and at which facilities they park; and what truck drivers think of the adequacy of current parking facilities. This report summarizes the background, methodology, and outcome of the driver survey. Surveys were distributed to a national sample of more than 2,000 truck drivers through site visits and mailings to truck stops. The sample included male and female drivers; independent owner/operators; and drivers for small-, mid-, and large-sized carriers. The majority of respondents identified themselves as long-haul drivers. Nearly all drivers reported that they, not their company colleagues, decide where they will park. Most drivers make this decision as they are driving. When drivers park their trucks, most expect to satisfy only their basic needs. Drivers prefer parking facilities that provide food, fuel, restrooms, phones, and showers. They also consider safety and convenience important. Drivers generally prefer private truck stops to public rest areas. However, for quick naps drivers showed a preference for rest areas over truck stops. Many respondents indicated they have trouble finding available parking at rest areas and truck stops. In fact, drivers asserted that building more truck stop and rest area spaces would be the best way to improve the parking situation. Survey respondents indicated that the parking facilities they encounter generally have characteristics that make those facilities usable. But, drivers did recommend that time limits be eliminated and that parking lot layouts be improved to accommodate large trucks.
17. Key Word Truck Parking, Commercial Motor Vehicles, Truck Driver Survey, Truck Parking Preferences, Parking Studies, Human Factors, Rest Area, Truck Stop, Parking Supply		18. Distribution Statement No restrictions. This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161.
19. Security Classif. (of this report) Unclassified	20. Security Classif. (of this page) Unclassified	21. No. of Pages 39	22. Price

Commercial Vehicle Driver Survey: Assessment of Parking Needs and Preferences

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD

NOTICE