Form FHWA-JL0001 Jason's Law Survey

Survey and Comparative Assessment of Truck Parking Facilities. (Jason's Law)

Jason's Law Survey Plan_ OMB Comments_DOTResponse 03182014 clean

Private Truck Stop Operators Respondents

OMB: 2125-0638

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Jason’s Law Survey Plan

Shape1

Introduction

As required under Jason’s Law MAP-21 §1401(c), “not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with relevant State motor carrier safety personnel, shall conduct a survey of each State-- (A) to evaluate the capability of the State to provide adequate parking and rest facilities for commercial motor vehicles engaged in interstate transportation; (B) to assess the volume of commercial motor vehicle traffic in the State; and (C) to develop a system of metrics to measure the adequacy of commercial motor vehicle parking facilities in the State. (2) Results.--The results of the survey under paragraph (1) shall be made available to the public on the website of the Department of Transportation.”

This Plan presents the outreach effort to help evaluate the capability of the states to provide adequate parking and rest facilities for commercial motor vehicles engaged in interstate transportation. The outreach will be conducted primarily in the form of a survey. The goals of the survey will be to:

identify existing truck parking locations including National Highway System (NHS) rest areas, private operator rest stops and facilities, and other locations like highway shoulders, ramps and off-road parking areas;
to characterize the truck parking capacity and supply;
to estimate the truck parking utilization and demand; and
to highlight the severity and extent of truck parking shortages.

Language included in §1401(c) requires the Secretary of Transportation to survey the adequacy of truck parking facilities in each state in meeting the needs of interstate truck drivers. The survey is required to be conducted in consultation with state commercial vehicle safety personnel in each state.

The issue of truck parking adequacy involves at least five primary stakeholder groups; each group having different and separate interests and issues with regard to adequacy of truck parking and rest facilities that serve interstate truck drivers. These groups have been identified as: personnel in the State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) involved in operating and maintaining rest areas on the National Highway System (NHS); enforcement personnel in each state that observe over-demand for truck parking or rest facilities based parking behavior and patterns; owners and operators of private sector truck parking facilities; interstate truck drivers; and trucking companies that employ interstate truck drivers.

The survey will center on gathering information from DOTs and enforcement personnel. However, other stakeholders groups have expressed a strong willingness to participate in supplemental data gathering in support of the study. The data gathering plan outlines the process whereby these groups may voluntarily provide information that may be considered to evaluate the capability of the states to provide adequate parking and rest facilities for commercial motor vehicles engaged in interstate transportation.

Survey Delivery

We will partner with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) to distribute the survey to state commercial vehicle safety program personnel in each state. The survey will be coordinated through the AASHTO Sub Committee on Highway Transport (SCOHT) and the CVSA State commercial vehicle safety personnel in each of the 50 states. The target is to achieve a 100% response rate for the survey.

Representatives from AASHTO and CVSA will send an initial email to their members containing the following:

a requests their help,
the purpose of the survey,
a web link to the online survey,
how the data will be used, and
a thank you for participating.

Because a state may already have an existing list of truck parking facilities, survey respondents will be offered the option to complete an electronic spreadsheet rather than an online survey to ease the burden of completing the survey. If this option is exercised, instructions will be provided to forward the completed spreadsheet to our contractor responsible for compiling the data.

Prior to the start of the survey, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Operations Headquarters Leadership will send a notification to all 50 FHWA Field Offices. The recipients of this notice will be the Freight Council representatives in each Field Office and will inform them that the survey has commenced and their assistance with outreach to State Departments of Transportation and State Truck Size and Weight enforcement personnel may be requested, if needed.

To add value to the survey, supplemental information will also be collected from motor carrier industry representatives in each state, commercial motor vehicle drivers, and commercial truck parking owners and operators. Outreach to the state Motor Truck Associations will be conducted through the American Trucking Association (ATA). Outreach to commercial motor vehicle drivers will be conducted through the Owner-Operator, Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA). Input from drivers may be received through ATA as well. Outreach to the commercial truck parking facility owners and operators will be conducted through the National Association of Truck Stop Operators (NATSO). ATA has state association representatives in each of the fifty states. NATSO has 1,300 members representing truck parking facility owners and operators in the United States. OOIDA currently has 150,000 members.

Representative from ATA, NATSO, and OOIDA will send an initial email to their membership that contains the following:

a requests their help,
the purpose of the data gathering activity,
an explanation of how the data will be used,
a web link to transmit their input, and
a thank you for participating.

Specific email text for each supporting organizations can be found in the appendices.

Prior Data Collection Activities

Two related data collection activities were accomplished over a decade ago. In 2002, FHWA published the Adequacy of Truck Parking Facilities Report. Activities involved in preparation of the Report included a survey of state officials assisting in the development of a national inventory of publicly operated truck parking spaces at rest area locations. In 2003, the Transportation Research Board published the National Cooperative Highway Research Program Synthesis #317: “Dealing with Truck Parking Shortages”. This project included the receipt of information from state transportation officials on plans for expanding truck parking opportunities.

Two recent related data collection activities were accomplished in 2013. In the summer, 2013, AASHTO conducted a survey of state officials in order to determine locations suffering from truck parking shortages. In the late summer of 2013, Hope Rivenburg, a private citizen, conducted a survey of truck drivers receiving information on locations around the country experiencing truck parking shortages. Where appropriate, information developed from these recent data collection activities will be considered to supplement the survey and data gathering that is required under this project.

Survey Data Usage

This project is designed to support safe highway based freight movements and to identify areas where investments in truck parking facilities are most needed and appropriate.

Confidentiality and Protection of Respondent’s Privacy

There will be no assurance of confidentially. No personally identifiable information will be gathered nor is required under this project. The report will disclose only the organization that assisted in gathering the information.

Non-Response Follow-up

The current project requires that the operation of the survey and response rates be monitored. An approach for the monitoring the survey as it is conducted has been established. Three days before the deadline listed in the initial email, the supporting organization representative will send an email reminder to prospective participants by “replying all” to the initial email (so the original text is intact). The following text will be added to the beginning of the email:

Thank you to everyone that has replied to our survey effort. For those of you that have not responded there are just 3 days remaining – Please submit your completed survey (AASHTO, CVSA) and/or data that was requested (ATA, NATSO, OOIDA) ASAP. Thank you.

Since a 100 percent census is the target for the State Commercial Vehicle Safety Personnel, AASHTO and CVSA will follow up with state representatives that do not reply by the initial deadline.

On the day following the initial email deadline the contractor, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin (VHB) will provide the AASHTO and CVSA a list of the state representatives that have not responded to the survey. The AASHTO or CVSA representatives will email non-respondents since the target is to obtain a full census from state representatives from these organizations. The following text will be sent out along with the original email:

It is critical and a federal mandate (Jason’s Law MAP-21 §1401(c) ) that FHWA obtain the requested truck parking survey data evaluate the capability of the State to provide adequate parking and rest facilities for commercial motor vehicles engaged in interstate transportation. To successfully meet the federal mandate truck parking data is required from every state. Please complete the survey as soon as possible. The deadline has been extended one week to Insert revised deadline. If you have any questions regarding the survey please feel free to contact me.

On the day following the revised deadline VHB will provide a list of any state representatives that have not replied to the survey. The AASHTO and CVSA representatives will phone state representatives and provide the following message:

Hello, this is Insert Name from AASHTO or CVSA and I am calling to verify that you received our emails dated Insert Dates initial and follow-up emails were sent.

If they haven’t received the emails, the AASHTO or CVSA representative will immediately resend the emails and confirm receipt while the state representative is still on the phone. After the state representative has a copy of the email in front of them, the AASHTO or CVSA will continue by saying:

The AASHTO or CVSA representative will ask the state representative to open the survey and then ask if they have any questions regarding how to complete the information. At the conclusion of the call, the AASHTO or CVSA representative will thank the state representative for their time, remind them where to send the completed survey and ask for a date when we should expect a completed survey.

Shape2 As surveys are completed online by each of the target groups they will be summarized and combined with any surveys submitted on paper. A technical memorandum will be prepared to summarize the findings. Information from the surveys will also be used to prepare maps presenting the inventory of truck parking facilities and areas suffering from truck parking shortages geo-spatially.

The attached appendices contain details of the initial emails that will be sent out and the survey questions for each constituency group.

APPENDIX A

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

Distributing surveys to

State DOT Personnel

This collection of information is voluntary and will be used to make assessments of truck parking facilities in each State. Public reporting burden is estimated to average 45 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Please note that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control number for this collection is 2125-XXXX. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to: Michael Howell Information Collection Clearance Officer, Federal Highway Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590.

State Department of Transportation Personnel

For the State Department of Transportation Personnel survey, AASHTO will be using the point of contacts that were developed for the AASHTO Truck Parking Survey conducted in the summer of 2013. Each state will have one point of contact who will be responsible for gathering the required data for their state. This single point of contact process is identical to the successful process that was used for the 2013 AASHTO Truck Parking Survey. Information from prior efforts measuring the amount and availability of truck parking spaces will be prepared and made available to state transportation officials so that an update of this information will be required.

Each State DOT representative will be sent an email that includes a link to the online survey. The text in the email will be as follows:

DOT Representative (Specific names will be used)

Your immediate assistance is needed. As required under Jason’s Law MAP-21 §1401(c), “not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with relevant State motor carrier safety personnel, shall conduct a survey of each State-- (A) to evaluate the capability of the State to provide adequate parking and rest facilities for commercial motor vehicles engaged in interstate transportation; (B) to assess the volume of commercial motor vehicle traffic in the State; and (C) to develop a system of metrics to measure the adequacy of commercial motor vehicle parking facilities in the State. (2) Results.--The results of the survey under paragraph (1) shall be made available to the public on the website of the Department of Transportation.”

To evaluate the capability of the State to provide adequate parking and rest facilities for commercial motor vehicles engaged in interstate transportation FHWA has developed a truck parking survey for you to complete regarding truck parking in your state. The online survey can be found at: Fill in online survey link. You will be asked to complete a full set of information and questions for each facility you operate.

The information collected will be used by the U.S. Department of Transportation to report the results of the Survey and Comparative Assessment required under section 1401(c) of MAP-21. It will also be used to provide information on the capability of the States to provide adequate truck parking and rest opportunities for commercial motor vehicles involved in interstate transportation, and to develop metrics that measure the adequacy of truck parking facilities in each State. Responses will be directly reflected in the findings that FHWA intends to publish on the web site. A prompt response is requested. Please reply no later than Insert Date (date should be two weeks from the sent date). If you have any questions regarding the survey please feel free to contact me or the representative listed above. Thank you in advance for your time and cooperation.

Insert Signature of AASHTO representative

Survey Content

The State Department of Transportation Personnel survey questions will be as follows for each NHS Rest Stop or Truck Parking Facility they operate:

Name

Highway Route Number

Municipality

County

State

Latitude

Longitude

What is the total number of parking spaces for ALL VEHICLE TYPES and the total number of TRUCK parking spaces?
During what hours are trucks allowed to park at this location?
What is the MAXIMUM number of hours a truck can park at this location?
On a typical day, what is the truck parking space utilization at this lot by time period?

Time periods --Midnight to 5AM, 5AM to 9AM, 9AM to Noon, Noon to 4PM, 4PM to 7PM, 7PM to Midnight
Utilization ranges – Less than 25% full, 26 to 50% full, 51 to 75% full, 76 to 100% full, more than 100 % full

During each day of the week, what is the typical truck parking space utilization at this lot?

Days of the week -- Sunday through Saturday
Utilization ranges – Less than 25% full, 26 to 50% full, 51 to 75% full, 76 to 100% full, more than 100 % full

For each month of the year, what is the typical truck parking space utilization at this lot?

Months of the year – January through December
Utilization ranges – Less than 25% full, 26 to 50% full, 51 to 75% full, 76 to 100% full, more than 100 % full

Are additional TRUCK PARKING spaces needed at or near this location?

If yes, how many additional TRUCK PARKING spaces are needed?

Is there any additional information you would like to provide about this location?
How much additional maintenance cost is caused by trucks using this site for parking?
Are you planning on increasing or decreasing truck parking in your state in the next 3 to 5 years?

If yes, please indicate where, how much parking will be added or removed and what brought about the truck parking change.

Is there any additional information you would like to provide regarding truck parking in your state?

APPENDIX B

Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA)

Distributing surveys to

State Motor Carrier Safety Officials

When surveying enforcement personnel we will be looking to get information about unofficial truck parking areas like road shoulders, ramps, vacant lots, etc. Enforcement personnel will be asked to answer a series of question about each location where they observe unofficial truck parking near Interstate Highways. The CVSA will send the following email to the motor carrier safety officials from each state:

State Enforcement Representative (Specific names will be used)

To evaluate the capability of the State to provide adequate parking and rest facilities for commercial motor vehicles engaged in interstate transportation FHWA has developed a truck parking survey for you to complete regarding truck parking in your state. Please complete the survey online using the following link: Fill in online survey link.

A prompt response is requested. Please reply no later than Insert Date (date should be two weeks from the sent date). If you have any questions regarding the survey please feel free to contact me or the representative listed above. Thank you in advance for your time and cooperation.

Insert Signature of CVSA representative

Survey Content

The State Enforcement Personnel survey questions will be as follows for each NHS Rest Stop or Truck Parking Facility that is operated by the state:

Unofficial Truck Parking Location (shoulder, on-ramp, off-ramp, vacant lot, etc.)

Highway Route Number

Address/Mile Marker

Municipality

County

State

Latitude (if possible)

Longitude (if possible)

On a typical day, about how many truck do you observed parked at this location?
During what time periods do you typically see trucks parked at this location? (select all that apply)

Time periods --Midnight to 5AM, 5AM to 9AM, 9AM to Noon, Noon to 4PM, 4PM to 7PM, 7PM to Midnight

During which days of the week do you typically see trucks parked at this location? (select all that apply)

Days of the week -- Sunday through Saturday

During which months of the year do you typically see trucks parked at this location? (select all that apply)

Months of the year – January through December

Are there times of the day, days of the week, and/or times of the year when truck parking in this area is more severe than others? If so please describe what you have observed in detail.
Is there any additional information you would like to provide about this location?
Is there any additional information you would like to provide regarding truck parking in your state?

APPENDIX C

National Association of Truck Stop Operators (NATSO)

Distributing supplemental information request to

Private Sector Truck Parking Facility Operators

Each Private Sector Truck Parking Facility Operator will be sent an email that includes the Excel spreadsheet and a link to the online survey. The text in the email will be as follows:

Truck Parking Facility Operator (Specific names will be used)

To evaluate the capability of the states to provide adequate parking and rest facilities for commercial motor vehicles engaged in interstate transportation FHWA has developed a truck parking survey for you to complete regarding truck parking at your facilities. Please complete the survey online using the following link: Fill in online survey link.

Insert Signature of NATSO representative

Survey Content

The survey questions will be as follows for each truck parking facility operator regarding each facility they operate:

Name

Highway Route Number

Municipality

County

State

Latitude

Longitude

What is the total number of parking spaces for ALL VEHICLE TYPES and the total number of TRUCK parking spaces?
During what hours are trucks allowed to park at this location?
What is the MAXIMUM number of hours a truck can park at this location?
On a typical day, what is the truck parking space utilization at this lot by time period?

Time periods --Midnight to 5AM, 5AM to 9AM, 9AM to Noon, Noon to 4PM, 4PM to 7PM, 7PM to Midnight
Utilization ranges – Less than 25% full, 26 to 50% full, 51 to 75% full, 76 to 100% full, more than 100 % full

During each day of the week, what is the typical truck parking space utilization at this lot?

Days of the week -- Sunday through Saturday
Utilization ranges – Less than 25% full, 26 to 50% full, 51 to 75% full, 76 to 100% full, more than 100 % full

For each month of the year, what is the typical truck parking space utilization at this lot?

Months of the year – January through December
Utilization ranges – Less than 25% full, 26 to 50% full, 51 to 75% full, 76 to 100% full, more than 100 % full

Are additional TRUCK PARKING spaces needed at or near this location?

If yes, how many additional TRUCK PARKING spaces are needed?

Is there any additional information you would like to provide about this location?
Are you planning on increasing or decreasing truck parking in the next 3 to 5 years?

If yes, please indicate where, how much parking will be added or removed and what brought about the truck parking change.

Is there any additional information you would like to provide regarding truck parking?

APPENDIX D

Owner/Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA)

Distributing Supplemental Information Request to

Interstate Truck Drivers

Working with OOIDA, interstate truck drivers will be given the opportunity to complete the survey via an online survey. We will also make paper surveys available that could be distributed to drivers.

Each Interstate Truck Driver will be sent an email that includes a link to the online survey. The text in the email will be as follows:

Interstate Truck Driver:

To evaluate the capability of the States to provide adequate parking and rest facilities for commercial motor vehicles engaged in interstate transportation FHWA has developed a truck parking survey for you to complete regarding your experiences with truck parking.

Please click on this link: Fill in online survey link to complete the survey online. The survey should only take about five to seven minutes to complete.

A prompt response is requested. Please reply no later than Insert Date (date should be two weeks from the sent date). If you have any questions regarding the survey please feel free to contact me. Thank you in advance for your time and cooperation.

Insert Signature of ATA or OOIDA representative

Survey Content

The truck driver survey questions will be as follows:

Do you deliver goods in more than one state AND have a need to park your truck to get required sleep?

Yes  continue survey
No  terminate survey

In the PAST YEAR, how often have you experienced a problem finding a safe location to park your truck when required rest or sleep was needed?

__Regularly (one or more times a week)

__Occasionally (one or more times a month)

__Rarely (one or twice a year)

__Never terminate survey

List the locations where you have had difficulty finding safe truck parking in the PAST YEAR when you are required to rest (please indicate the Highway Name/Number, Municipality, mile marker and State).

From your experience over the PAST YEAR, which STATES currently have a SHORTAGE of safe truck parking owned and operated by the public and private sectors? (select all that apply)

States listed – Alabama to Wyoming plus “None, I don’t have a problem with truck parking”

From your experience over the PAST YEAR, which REGIONS currently have a SHORTAGE of safe truck parking owned and operated by the public and private sectors? (select all that apply)

New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island Connecticut
Mid-Atlantic – New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey
South-Atlantic – Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida
Midwest/East North Central -- Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio
Midwest/West North Central – Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa
Southeast – Kentucky Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama
Southwest – Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana
Mountain – Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico
Pacific – Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii
None, I don’t have a problem with truck parking

Over the PAST YEAR, what are times of the day that you have the most difficulty finding safe truck parking? (select all that apply)

Time periods --Midnight to 5AM, 5AM to 9AM, 9AM to Noon, Noon to 4PM, 4PM to 7PM, 7PM to Midnight
I don’t have difficulty finding safe truck parking

Over the PAST YEAR, which days of the week do you have the most difficulty finding safe truck parking? (select all that apply)

Days of the week -- Sunday through Saturday
I don’t have difficulty finding safe truck parking

Over the PAST YEAR, which months of the year do you have the most difficulty finding safe truck parking? (select all that apply)

Months of the year – January through December

I don’t have difficulty finding safe truck parking

From your experience over the PAST YEAR, which states do you feel have a SUFFICIENT SUPPLY of safe truck parking owned and operated by the public and private sectors? (select all that apply)

States listed – Alabama to Wyoming plus “None, I don’t travel in states that have a SUFFICIENT SUPPLY of safe truck parking.”

Is there any additional information you would like to provide regarding truck parking?

APPENDIX E

American Trucking Associations (ATA)

Distributing Supplemental Information Request to

Trucking Industry Professionals

ATA they will contact the State Motor Trucking Association (MTA) directors in each state and request that they complete the survey. Each state has a Motor Truck Association Director. It is expected that State MTA will consult with firms and individuals involved in logistics and may consult with companies and their drivers if needed. The message to be forwarded to the MTA Directors is –

Trucking Industry Professional:

Please click on this link: Fill in online survey link to complete the survey online. The survey should only take about five to seven minutes to complete.

A prompt response is requested. Please reply no later than Insert Date (date should be two weeks from the sent date). If you have any questions regarding the survey please feel free to contact me. Thank you in advance for your time and cooperation.

Insert Signature of ATA representative

Survey Content

The truck industry professional’s survey questions will be as follows:

Do your drivers deliver goods in more than one state AND have a need to park their truck to get required sleep?

Yes  continue survey
No  terminate survey

In the PAST YEAR, have your truck drivers experienced a problem finding a safe location to park their truck when required rest or sleep was needed?

__Regularly (once or more a week)

__Occasionally (once or more a month)

__Rarely (once or twice a year)

__Never terminate survey

List the locations where your drivers have had difficulty finding safe truck parking when they are required to rest (please indicate the Highway Name/Number, Municipality, mile marker and State).
From your experience over the PAST YEAR, which STATES currently have a SHORTAGE of safe truck parking owned and operated by the public and private sectors? (select all that apply)

States listed – Alabama to Wyoming plus “None, my drivers don’t have a problem with truck parking”

From your experience over the PAST YEAR, which REGIONS currently have a SHORTAGE of safe truck parking owned and operated by the public and private sectors? (select all that apply)

New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island Connecticut
Mid-Atlantic – New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey
South-Atlantic – Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida
Midwest/East North Central -- Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio
Midwest/West North Central – Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa
Southeast – Kentucky Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama
Southwest – Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana
Mountain – Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico
Pacific – Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii
None, my drivers don’t have a problem with truck parking

Over the PAST YEAR, What are times of the day that your drivers have the most difficulty finding safe truck parking? (select all that apply)

Time periods --Midnight to 5AM, 5AM to 9AM, 9AM to Noon, Noon to 4PM, 4PM to 7PM, 7PM to Midnight
My drivers don’t have difficulty finding safe truck parking

Over the PAST YEAR, which days of the week that your drivers have the most difficulty finding safe truck parking? (select all that apply)

Days of the week -- Sunday through Saturday
My drivers don’t have difficulty finding safe truck parking

Over the PAST YEAR, which months of the year that your drivers have the most difficulty finding safe truck parking? (select all that apply)

Months of the year – January through December

My drivers don’t have difficulty finding safe truck parking

From your experience over the PAST YEAR, which states do you feel have a SUFFICIENT SUPPLY of safe truck parking owned and operated by the public and private sectors? (select all that apply)

States listed – Alabama to Wyoming plus “None, my drivers don’t travel in states that have a SUFFICIENT SUPPLY of safe truck parking.”

Do you schedule your driver routes based on available truck parking?

Yes  Please elaborate about the scheduling process
No

Over the PAST YEAR, what percentage of your drivers regularly need a place to park their truck to get required rest?
Is there any additional information you would like to provide regarding truck parking?

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