Exploring Truck Driver Perceptions and Preferences: Congestion and Conflict, Managed Lanes, and Tolls

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.