Survey: Americans Largely Unaware of Truck Parking Shortage

CloudTrucks conducted a survey of 1,000 U.S. adults about their perception of truck drivers and their knowledge of truck parking issues. The survey found that while Americans generally had a positive perception of trucking, more than half were unaware about the challenges of truck parking.

Most people (56%) surveyed were unaware of the challenges drivers face in finding parking facilities, and that there was a nationwide shortage of parking for long-haul truck drivers.

Many respondents underestimated how many hours a trucker is permitted to drive in a day, and more than one in five respondents (21%) did not know that drivers sleep in a berth in their trucks.

A little more than halfway through the survey, respondents were given information about the parking shortage. After that, 86% of respondents agreed the parking challenges were a “critical” (48%) or “significant” (38%) problem, compared to 10% who said it was a “minor” (8%) problem or “not a problem” (2%), and 4% who said they were not sure.

Those surveyed expressed a desire for more Americans to learn about the parking shortage.

• 90% of respondents said that increased public awareness of the crisis is needed.
• 90% of those surveyed said that federal, state, and/or local governments should devote more funding to the problem.
• 57% of respondents recommended that the federal government serve as a source of funds.
• 67% said that the government should “increase funding for truck parking infrastructure, such as rest areas and truck stops."
• 43% favored “relaxed zoning and land use regulations”
• 40% supported “tax incentives for truck stop chains, trucking companies, and other private companies.”

About 80% of respondents only support facilities that are at least three miles from their homes, and 5% said they did not support new construction at all. 15% said they are comfortable with facilities being within 2 miles of their homes.

What is the Public Perception of Truck Drivers?

“While some commentators have expressed the concern that negative perceptions of truck drivers might influence public opinion on truck parking and other industry issues, the survey showed that Americans hold an overwhelmingly favorable view of drivers—saying they are safe drivers who are both overworked and underpaid,” CloudTrucks officials said in blog post analyzing the survey data.

Key findings include:

• 82% of respondents said drivers are “overworked”, compared to 4% who answered “underworked.” The remaining respondents (14%) answered “neither overworked nor underworked.”
• When asked whether truck drivers are overpaid or underpaid, 58% of respondents answered “underpaid” compared to just 13% who answered “overpaid.” The remaining respondents answered “neither overpaid nor underpaid.”
• 50% of respondents said truckers are “safer drivers than the general public” and 36% said they are “neither safer nor less safe as drivers than the general public.” Only 14% said that truckers are “less-safe drivers than the general public.”
• When asked why they think people choose to become truck drivers, respondents ascribed largely positive motivations, with 56% of respondents saying it was because they enjoy “the freedom of the open road” or “traveling to new places.” Another 31% said it was to “earn a high salary compared to other jobs available.”