Freight Demand Model for Southern California Freeways with Owner–Operator Truck Drivers

Abstract:

This study evaluates the demand for truck-only toll lanes on Southern California freeways with owner–operator truck drivers. The study implemented the stated preference survey method to estimate the value placed by drivers on time, reliability, and safety measures using various scenarios geared towards assessing those values. The project team met face-to-face with owner- operator truck drivers near the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to understand the drivers’ perspectives regarding truck-only toll lanes on Southern California freeways. A data set containing 31 survey responses is obtained and used for statistical data analysis using analysis of variable (ANOVA) and two sample t-tests. The analysis results showed that 75.27% of the owner– operator truck drivers responded are willing to pay toll fees when they choose routes. The tolerated average toll fees are $13.77/ hr and $12.82/hr for weekdays and weekends, respectively. The analysis results also showed that owner–operator truck drivers will take truck-only toll lanes when they take the routes used in four comparisons out of six comparisons according to the three measures such as values of time, reliability, and safety, despite sharing a common origin and destination. The highest toll fee per mile on any day that drivers are willing to pay when the main factor being compared is value of time is $0.31/mile or $18.35/hr. The toll fees associated with reliability and safety measures are $0.30/mile or $8.94/hr and $0.22/mile or $11.01/hr, respectively. These results are meaningful for legislators and transportation agencies as the behaviors and route choice characteristics of owner–operator truck drivers help them better understand the utility and demand for truck-only toll lanes.

Publications:

Freight Demand Model for Southern California Freeways with Owner–Operator Truck Drivers (Full Report)

Research Brief

Additional Resources:

Supplemental Materials/Dataset (zip file)

Authors:

JOSEPH J. KIM
Dr. Joseph J. Kim, PE. (PI) is Professor at the Department of Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering Management at California State University Long Beach. He supervised two undergraduate students and was responsible for overall project coordination, assuring successful project completion, and preparing the final MTI report. Prior to this research, Dr. Kim played an important role in a research project that evaluated several ITS-based treatments for the safety of a pedestrian crossing the streets funded by the Federal Highway Administration. He worked on the overall management of that project, which included the supervision of students collecting data based on either human or video observation, organization of data, statistical analysis using non-parametric tests, and reporting of the results. The outcomes had been featured in several publications and presentations at the meetings of the Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board and the annual Transportation Research Board. The PI has previous experience as a GIS specialist at the Gainesville Police Department in Florida and has a minor in statistics, which is a significant advantage for conducting this research.

SAMUEL DOMINGUEZ
Samuel Dominguez is a senior civil engineering student at the Department of Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering Management at California State University Long Beach who contributed to accomplishing the goals of this research project. His interests within the field include structural engineering and project management. The scope of his work includes assistance of design for the stated preference survey form, collection and analysis of field data with the PI, and preparation of the MTI report.

LUIS DIAZ
Luis Diaz is a civil engineering graduate with his E.I.T. and is pursuing his MS degree in Civil Engineering at the Department of Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering Management at California State University Long Beach. He is interested in helping the community by finding solutions that will improve the transportation system. He worked on this project to accomplish the goals of this research project. The scope of his work included conducting a supplemental literature review and assisting with design for the stated preference survey form.

Published:

October 2020

Keywords:

Truck routes

Owner operators

Value of time

Reliability

Safety