TRUCK PARKING AND SAFETY IN REST AREAS IN TENNESSEE

Truck parking spaces in the public rest areas and pull-out areas along Tennessee's Interstate highways are filling up at night and large trucks are parking along the shoulders of ramps of these areas. Trucks are parking along regular interchange ramps and in some cases along through lanes. This is a potentially hazardous situation for travelers. A detailed survey was performed at public rest areas in Tennessee at night covering all seven days of the week to learn about the occupancy characteristics of trucks. Availability of space in private truck stops near interchanges also was examined. This paper presents the findings of these surveys in quantitative terms. The need for truck parking spaces was estimated along with an assessment of the shortfall. Several truck drivers were interviewed to learn more about why some drivers prefer to park along highways. A few managers of private truck stops were interviewed to learn about their views. Findings related to these issues are presented in the paper.