Trucking executives look to solve truck parking shortage

Since 1996, members of the trucking industry have been grappling with a shortage of truck parking spaces along many of the most popular freight corridors in the United States. Several organizations, including the Federal Highway Administration and Trucking Industry Mobility and Technology Coalition, have undertaken technology research projects to eradicate this growing issue.

The American Transportation Research Institute recently administered a short survey asking individuals with truck driving jobs about the largest problems associated with the parking shortage. Approximately 100 carriers and 240 drivers responded and provided ATRI with valuable data that can be used to implement crucial changes.

"For drivers, HOS compliance/fatigue management ranked 1.8 while for carriers it ranked 1.9; far and away the most critical issues," Dan Murray, vice president of research at ATRI, told Fleet Owner. "The next on the list - the need to access showers and restroom facilities - ranked only 4.4 and 5.0, respectively, in terms of importance."

For these reasons, truck parking was ranked as No. 8 on ATRI's Top 10 Industry Concerns for 2012 list. Carriers and drivers alike view the truck parking shortage as a safety implication more than an issue of convenience.

Trucking executives look to solve truck parking shortage

Friday, December 7th, 2012