The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the trucking industry's not-for-profit research organization, launched a new research initiative to collect real-world information on the daily situations and challenges that truck drivers face in locating appropriate and safe parking. ATRI is recruiting drivers who will keep a 14-day diary of their truck parking issues.
The diaries ask drivers to record daily stops that relate to fuel and food stops, their 30-minute rest break and the mandated 10-hour break. Drivers will record the time and location of their stops, how long it took them to find available parking and other information about the location, amenities and why it was selected. Drivers will also log the amount of time they lost in their duty day if they parked before running out of hours simply to secure available parking.
According to ATRI, the data collected will also build on existing knowledge of truck parking shortages by providing qualitative information on driver parking behavior as well as how parking uncertainty impacts the industry's productivity.
"ATRI's truck parking diaries represent a first-of-its-kind opportunity for drivers to document their truck parking issues,” said professional driver David Green of Werner Enterprises and one of the America's Road Team Captains. “We all talk about how tough it is to find truck parking; ATRI is giving us the chance to document the issues on a national scale so that solutions can be identified and acted on. I am excited about completing my diary, and I encourage my fellow drivers to also participate."
Drivers who are interested in participating can visit the ATRI website to complete a brief prequalifying survey, or visit ATRI's booth at the Mid-America Trucking Show. Selected drivers will be contacted by email to obtain the diary. The first 100 participants to return their completed Truck Parking Diary will receive a $50 VISA gift card.
Commercial drivers with questions about participating can email ATRI at [email protected].
