Truck Parking Facilities and Ramp Parking: Role of Supply, Demand, and Ramp Characteristics

Cherry, Christopher R.; Boggs, Alexandra; Franceschetti, Nicolo; Ling, Ziwen; Nambisan, Shashi · 2016 · ROSA P / Tennessee. Department of Transportation

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Summary

This study addresses the critical shortage of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) parking in Tennessee, a problem driven by increasing truck traffic and static revenue for public agencies. The research investigates the resulting phenomenon of illegal ramp parking, where drivers park on interstate entrance and exit ramps to comply with federal hours-of-service (HOS) regulations. The primary objectives were to inventory the supply and demand of designated truck parking facilities, assess the usage of ramp shoulders for overnight parking, and identify specific ramp characteristics and driver behaviors that influence illegal parking decisions. The methodology involved a comprehensive field inventory conducted during peak off-duty hours (12:00 am to 5:00 am) on weekdays in 2016. Researchers visited all non-urban interstate facilities and interchanges across five major corridors (I-24, I-40, I-65, I-75, and I-81) to count occupied and unoccupied spaces in both public and private facilities, as well as CMVs parked on ramps. Additionally, the study analyzed 854 rural ramp attributes and observed 295 CMVs parked along 134 ramps. To understand driver perspectives, the authors conducted a survey of CMV drivers regarding their parking preferences, behaviors, and reasons for choosing illegal parking locations. The findings reveal a severe supply-demand imbalance. Among 94 surveyed truck facilities, 73 had utilization rates of 75% or higher, with a statewide average of 89.9%. The I-24 corridor exhibited a deficit where demand exceeded supply, potentially requiring drivers to travel for three hours without finding legal parking. Despite this, less than 10% of trucks on that corridor parked on ramps. Statewide, over 300 trucks were found parked on ramps, with two-thirds located on on-ramps. Statistical analysis identified several ramp features positively correlated with illegal parking: diamond interchanges, wider shoulders, longer ramps, and the absence of "No Parking" signage. Conversely, wider lanes and two-lane ramps were associated with less ramp parking. Survey results indicated that while 75% of drivers intended to use public or private rest areas, over half would continue driving if facilities were full, and approximately 30% would resort to ramp parking. Drivers cited the lack of empty spaces at nearby facilities as the primary reason for ramp parking. The study concludes that Tennessee’s highways suffer from persistent shortages of legal parking, particularly between 7 pm and 4 am. The authors recommend that public agencies address this safety and operational issue by increasing parking capacity on key corridors and improving real-time information systems for drivers. The research highlights that while better information provides marginal benefits, the fundamental solution requires expanding the physical supply of parking facilities to accommodate growing CMV fleets and ensure driver compliance with safety regulations.

Key finding

Diamond interchanges, wider shoulders, absence of no parking signs, smaller width, fewer lanes near the intersection, and longer ramps were significant factors associated with parked commercial motor vehicles on Tennessee ramps.

Methodology

mixed_methods

Sample size: 167

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• truck driver fatigue