Author: Kenneth A. Winter

Publisher:

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 24

ISBN-13:

Improving and expanding parking spaces could help reduce trucker fatigue. Commercial driver fatigue is a well-established problem on Interstate highways. According to the Trucking Research Institute and many independent studies, truck parking space shortages abound at both public and private facilities. Survey data indicates the majority of commercial truck drivers and trucking executives feel there are not enough parking options, and that the Northeastern U.S. has the greatest shortage of parking. Truckers stated that when given the option, they would prefer to park at private facilities (versus rest stops), however, they frequently reported that at such areas, parking spaces were often not suitable for their vehicles, and that even when they find spaces they do not always get restful sleep there. Using existing spaces more effectively and efficiently could begin to address the problem. For example, drivers seeking a place to stop rarely know space availability until they have left the interstate. If there are no spaces available, they are likely park on an exit ramp or in areas not designated for trucks. Knowledge about space availability ahead of time would be helpful to drivers making preparing to stop. Regardless of any improvements, however, the literature indicates that additional parking may be warranted. Among the many possible interventions to improve truck rest parking are the following: expand and improve public rest areas and commercial truck stops; form public-private partnerships to support joint parking solutions; use alternative parking sites, e.g., weigh stations, government facilities, and receiving and shipping facilities; improve parking layout to make parking easier, safer, and more secure; provide better information to truck drivers about rest parking availability, including advanced real-time information on space availability; change enforcement practices, e.g., step up enforcement of parking rules to remove vehicles from ramps and shoulders, but extend time limits to allow better sleep. It would be advisable to evaluate the specific recent incidents in Virginia that have caused attention to be focused on commercial drivers and parking limitations, and be sure fatigue related to lack of parking options was involved in these instances. Further, it may be useful to contact one of several preeminent researchers in this area to discuss the matter directly. First on that list should be Nicholas J. Garber at the University of Virginia, who has researched truck parking availability on Virginia's interstates, accident characteristics of large trucks on highway ramps, and large-truck safety in general.