Truck Motorist Parking Currently Limited
Nobody stops to thing exactly what takes place when truck chauffeurs stop driving at the end of the day or night. Why is this?
They appear to be constantly on the road. It is an unknown fact outside the trucking market, but truck chauffeurs are actually lawfully needed to stop and rest. There are about 3.2 million truck motorists in the United States and about 1.9 million trucks to own. This presents an instant issue in the industry, as there are way a lot of trucks and not enough places to park them at.
The trucking market parking shortage is not a new concern in the trucking industry, yet it is still a continually growing concern. That concept is true even more so now that there is resurgence in the economy, which has actually put much more trucks on the road. Trucking is a highly competitive market that involves several stakeholders consisting of trucking business, developers, shippers, transportation authorities, and security authorities. Regardless, there is little representation when it concerns truck chauffeurs and even less lodging for them on the road.
Trucker parking scarcity has actually been a problem in the industry for more than a number of years. It is an issue that does not get much attention except for the truck chauffeurs that have to deal with it every day.
For truck motorists, parking scarcity is not really an issue of benefit; it is more of a safety and compliance concern in the industry. On an average, a single semi truck motorist will go for near 100,000 miles on cross country journeys. Semi trucks may make up only 15% of commercial trucks nationwide, but they cover nearly 42% of mileage driven by the very same group. Even with these statistics, there are still not enough parking areas that supply a legal and safe place where truckers can stop and where they actually need to one of the most.
In addition to this problem, security regulators continue to increase the quantity of times truckers are required to rest. It is a simple matter of common sense. In order for truckers to rest, they need a place to stop and park their trucks. According to law, truck chauffeurs must stop at least once every 8 hours of real work time for 30 minutes and stop driving for the night after 11 hours of owning or 14 hours of work equivalence.
Numerous drivers have actually reported that besides handling their fatigue and tiredness, among their biggest issues in their profession is really attempting to abide by federal regulations. Without adequate trucker parking, it ends up being nearly impossible to lawfully abide by such enforced requirements.
More than being a compliance concern, the lack of trucker parking is also a fatal problem. It is difficult to comprehend the concept of a truck driver’s fatigue after a long day on the roadway. And with truck parking lack, many drivers have to turn to other procedures simply to be able to obtain rest.
When an exhausted trucker can no longer keep looking for a legal location to park his truck, he might end up parking illegally in unsafe and secluded places. Many truckers can be seen parked behind empty supermarket or even on freeway ramps. Some motorists who can’t discover parking even choose to simply press on and keep driving. This is an even larger risk as it not just postures a danger to the driver himself, however it ends up being a hazard to routine motorists as well. There can be absolutely nothing more hazardous on the roadway than a drowsy driver behind a semi truck. This specific scenario has resulted in lots of transportation accidents and fatalities.
There is likewise a security concern when it pertains to the freight that trucks bring. Truck drivers are often subject of many theft and break-ins. The majority of the time, truckers are not able to park their semis in a well lit and fenced in place, so they become easier targets for robbers.
Depending on the type of freight the truck carries, its overall worth can go up to millions worth. The trucking market is really appealing to those who seek this kind of thieving work. This presents a lot more danger to the trucker as some robbers will do whatever it takes, and if a trucker occurs to be asleep on the side of the road, it makes it a lot easier to do.
A California survey on truckers along I-5 showed how 70% of drivers would stop at a truck stop on the way, but truck stops are always full. According to researchers in UC Berkeley, this circumstance occurs each day for truck motorists. Another research study from the Federal Highway Association discovered that on parts of I-40 along Arizona and New Mexico, there are just 300 truck parking spots for more than 10,000 trucks that go through that location every day.
Big companies that rely on truckers for shipping such as Thyssen Krupp do not supply truck parking in their centers, and business guidelines do not permit truck drivers to park anywhere unless it’s legal.
Another informal survey in 2013 gathered about 4,000 reactions from truck drivers regarding the parking lack circumstance. Nearly 40% of those who reacted stated that it generally takes them an hour or more to find a parking area for the night. Out of these responses, much of them regularly park behind shopping mall and about 45% park in deserted areas.
Because there is really no single entity that is accountable for the truck parking lack issue, there hasn’t been any real solution. It was just in 2012 when federal financing became available for truck parking projects, but since that passed, absolutely nothing has altered much. The highways are still congested with truck motorists, and there are still not enough locations to let them rest in peace and safety.
Truck parking has even end up being a service for some, a totally new market due to the rising needs. There are locations that charge truck drivers a premium simply to be able to park for the night. This is an issue that needs addressing not only for the safety of truck chauffeurs however also for safety on the roadway in general. Truck chauffeurs take care of all our country’s freight. It is time they are taken care of too.
