01128804

Component

Increased globalization has caused large increases in truck traffic on the nation’s interstate system, with much growth expected in the coming years. This growth has elevated interest in developing new strategies to address rising levels of truck traffic, especially in dense and congested urban areas. This paper focuses on identifying perceptions of truck drivers to urban congestion and safety challenges and gauges their interests in potential geometric or operational solutions. A survey of 500 long-haul truck drivers was administered in Knoxville, Tennessee, at the crossroads of major north-south and east-west interstate highways. The dataset was evenly divided between owner-operators and truck-company employed drivers. These two populations had somewhat varied trip making behavior, but their perceptions of traffic problems were consistent. The most problematic factors on Knoxville’s urban highways include aggressive drivers, congestion, car lane changing behavior, and merging vehicles. The survey suggested several alternative truck lane management configurations and most of the respondents supported moving truck lanes to the inside travel lanes to avoid merging and lane changing cars, either through traditional truck lanes restrictions or truck only lanes. Respondents were polarized for and against the current truck lane restrictions, mandating trucks use the right two lanes. The mean willingness to pay to avoid ten minutes of congestion (through truck management) is about $2.00. The results of this survey are generalizable to other urban areas since most traffic is non-local. The responses are meant to identify perceived challenges and acceptable solutions that can later be simulated to balance driver acceptance with operational efficiency.

01120148

09-1324

English

16p

2009

Transportation Research Board 88th Annual Meeting

DVD

Figures (7) ; References; Tables (1)

Freight traffic; Freight transportation; Globalization; Interstate highways; Managed lanes; Owner operators; Systems analysis; Toll roads; Traffic conflicts; Traffic congestion; Truck drivers; Truck traffic

Knoxville (Tennessee)

Freight Transportation; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2009 Paper #09-1324

TRIS, TRB

Jan 30 2009 5:34PM