Senior Reporter
ATRI Survey: Nearly Half of Commercial Vehicle Drivers Wouldn't Pay for Reserved Parking
The ATRI survey of 1,417 drivers, most of them truckload, said that reservation parking systems near large metropolitan areas would have the highest utility for them.
However, the survey showed that there is a “disconnect” between drivers’ interest in parking reservation systems and their willingness to pay for parking reservations.
“Regardless of who pays, the majority of for-hire drivers indicated a preference for reserving parking near major metropolitan areas [52%] or all areas [26%]. Private fleet drivers also prefer major metropolitan areas [39%] and all areas [32%],” the survey said.
Employee drivers preferred that the motor carrier pay, according to ATRI.
The survey, made public Sept. 21, was taken at this year's Mid-America Trucking Show, held March 26-28 in Louisville, Kentucky. Additionally, the survey was available online through ATRI’s website from March 31–May 1.
“The survey results demonstrate that the reservation system concept, independent of pricing and payment responsibility, appears to have utility, particularly in areas where parking capacity is in highest demand, ATRI said.
ATRI said the survey was taken because legal truck parking has historically been a major issue for motor carriers and commercial drivers, but that the problem is reaching a critical juncture.
“State budget woes have led to the elimination of many hundreds of public truck parking spaces, the survey said. “Evolving supply chains and truck operational changes have moved the truck parking ‘sweet spot’ for many urban areas.”
“Understanding the expectations of trucking companies and professional drivers is of critical importance to truck stop operators,” Lisa Mullings, president and CEO of Natso, the association representing truck stops, said in a statement. “ATRI’s analysis will provide important guidance to truck stops as they work to meet their customers’ operational and safety needs.”
ATRI’s Managing Critical Truck Parking initiative was driven by the selection of truck parking as one of the top priority research topics for 2015 by ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee.
