Truck Drivers Slow to Adopt Parking Apps, Study Finds

Study Reveals Low Adoption of Truck Parking Apps Despite Growing Need

A new federal study has found that despite the ongoing truck parking crisis, many truck drivers are not using parking management apps that could help them find available parking spaces more efficiently. Conducted by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute on behalf of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the study focused on Interstate 80 and Interstate 94 corridors in Iowa and Wisconsin, where truck parking shortages are well-documented.

The research aimed to determine the feasibility of truck parking apps in helping truckers find safe and legal parking spots, ultimately reducing instances of trucks parking in unauthorized areas such as highway ramps, rest area entrances, and exits.

However, the study found that most drivers are not using parking apps to locate available spaces, which contributes to congestion and unsafe parking practices along these key freight corridors.

Parking Shortages and Infrastructure Limitations

According to the study, adequate and safe truck parking is one of the biggest concerns in the trucking industry. Truckers struggle to find legal parking, especially during overnight hours when demand is highest.

However, state officials in Iowa and Wisconsin indicated that there is simply not enough funding to expand truck parking infrastructure to meet current or future demand.

This funding gap has led many in the industry to look for technology-driven solutions like truck parking apps and capacity management platforms to optimize existing parking spaces.

One such platform tested during the study was Parkunload, which provides truck drivers with real-time parking availability updates and details on where spaces are located within a rest area or truck stop.

Mixed Reactions to Parking Apps

The study found a significant divide in how truck drivers perceive parking management apps.

• Truckers at pilot locations who used the Parkunload platform provided overwhelmingly positive feedback, noting that it helped them locate parking efficiently and reduced the stress of searching for a spot.
• However, online responses to the study—primarily from truckers on social media—were overwhelmingly negative. Many truckers expressed skepticism over the effectiveness of the technology and distrust of app-based solutions.

Despite this mixed reaction, the pilot program clearly demonstrated that parking apps could provide a cost-effective way to help truckers find available spaces.

Challenges in Driver Adoption

One of the biggest hurdles identified in the study was getting truck drivers to download and consistently use parking apps.

The research highlighted two key challenges:

1. Driver Participation: Many truckers don’t know about these apps or are reluctant to download them. Reaching drivers and convincing them to use the technology remains a significant challenge.
2. Compliance Issues: Even when truckers do download the app, many don’t use it regularly to check in or check out of parking spaces, which limits the effectiveness of the platform.

The study emphasized that, for these apps to be truly effective, there must be a shift in driver behavior and a broader industry push for adoption.

Potential Applications and Future Considerations

 

While adoption remains low, the study suggested several potential use cases where truck parking apps could be particularly beneficial:

• Truck Stops & Rest Areas: Providing real-time space availability to drivers in busy locations.
• Weigh Stations & Safety Facilities: Integrating parking apps to manage parking capacity in areas with limited infrastructure.
• Electric Truck Charging Stations: As electric trucks become more common, apps could also provide data on charging infrastructure availability.

The study concluded that while parking management apps could help alleviate the truck parking crisis, widespread adoption remains a challenge. Addressing driver skepticism and improving outreach efforts will be critical for these tools to reach their full potential.

 

Source:

https://www.ttnews.com/articles/truck-parking-app-resistance