Truck parking information needs to be functional, accurate, ATRI research says

From Transport Topics.

Effectively addressing the truck parking capacity problem will depend on standardization and accuracy, according to a recent white paper from the American Transportation Research Institute.

ATRI on June 14 released the research, which analyzed truck driver perspectives regarding truck parking information systems. The research reflects a survey of 1,103 truckers and cross-tabulates findings from all sectors, age groups and experience levels. It covers how truck drivers currently use parking availability systems and their perspectives on how truck parking information is distributed.

Among the survey respondents, the strongest recommendation to addressing the truck parking shortage was increasing parking capacity. However, due to zoning regulations and land costs, this option may not be viable in all locations, ATRI said.

Some 32.8% of respondents indicated they use both truck parking apps and variable message signs, which the research noted present their own limitations, as ways to find parking.

Multiple state departments of transportation have explored truck parking initiatives, using technology such as exit and entrance sensors. ATRI’s research notes differences exist across these state programs with respect to how the information is collected and disseminated to truck drivers.

One challenge specific to parking availability apps is the federal restrictions on using handheld mobile devices while driving, which generally means drivers must already be parked somewhere in order to use these apps

“Until we get an infrastructure bill that dramatically increases capacity, the next best thing we have are truck parking information system apps,” ATRI Senior Vice President Dan Murray told Transport Topics. “One of the biggest messages that this research conveys is that there’s a lot of complexity and confusion out there. There’s nearly a half a dozen apps available. Many drivers are using many to all of them concurrently. That sort of confusion will pretty much serve to drive people away from these systems rather than towards them.”

See the complete article online at Transport Topics.