Perceived safe and adequate truck parking: A random parameters binary logit analysis of truck driver opinions in the Pacific Northwest

Abstract This paper focuses on the availability of parking for freight vehicles, with a specific focus on being able to find safe and adequate parking (i.e., a designated parking location for large trucks) along a primary freight corridor in Oregon. This is achieved through the use of a truck driver survey regarding their experiences related to the availability of safe and adequate parking. The survey is geographically focused on drivers and freight activity throughout the Pacific Northwest, as to better infer on truck parking along the study corridor. The data and information collected are then utilized to estimate a binary outcome (logit) model to evaluate how different factors, obtained from the driver survey, impact the likelihood of finding safe and adequate parking from the perspective of the driver. Of 134 indicator variables, 11 factors are found to be statistically significant and provide insights into what impacts or affects the probability that a driver will encounter problems finding safe and adequate parking. Results show that drivers of less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments, weekend shipments, and older drivers have significantly fewer challenges finding safe and adequate parking. Findings from the current study can be used to better guide efforts in Oregon, and across the country, in regard to safe and adequate truck parking.