Calibrate Truck Parking Detection Systems Daily to Reduce Error Accumulation and Provide Accurate Information to Drivers.
Lessons Learned from Truck Parking Information Management System Deployments Across the United States
Nationwide, United States
Truck Parking Detection Technologies
Summary Information
Management of truck parking facility capacity remains a challenge for state transportation agencies, particularly along major freight corridors where parking demand can frequently exceed available supply. To address this issue, many states have deployed systems that automatically monitor truck parking availability and communicate real-time space information to drivers as they approach parking facilities. The Evaluating New Technologies for Roads Program Initiatives in Safety and Efficiency (ENTERPRISE) Transportation Pooled Fund Study documented experiences and findings from outreach with member agencies and a literature review, focusing on truck parking detection technologies, system components, and information dissemination mechanisms. There were 23 agencies represented in the truck parking detection resources. The study also examined innovative detection concepts, safety and roadway maintenance issues related to illegal or shoulder parking at rest areas, and examples of vehicle detection technologies used in other industries.
Below is a list of lessons learned from this study.
- Calibrate Truck Parking Detectors Daily to Reduce Error Accumulation. Tennessee and Indiana reported that daily calibration of systems is necessary to maintain acceptable accuracy. A system in Minnesota was able to use cameras with a view of the entire facility to self-calibrate. Manual calibration is sometimes needed if sensors are obstructed or trucks park in unmarked spaces. .
- Use flexible camera configurations to improve detection coverage. Truck parking detection deployments may benefit from replacing fixed cameras with pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras. This approach can expand viewing coverage and may reduce the total number of cameras needed at a site.
- Encourage open and vendor-neutral system architecture. Agencies may benefit from considering technology-agnostic solutions with application programming interfaces (APIs), so parking data can be shared with public agencies, private-sector applications, and other traveler information platforms without depending on a single vendor.
- Avoid using a one-size-fits-all design. Truck parking sites vary in layout, driver behavior, weather exposure, visibility, and communications reliability. Agencies should consider pilot testbeds that compare multiple detection technologies under different field conditions before full deployment. Technology selection should account for factors such as fog, snow, rain, lighting, cellular service reliability, rural location constraints, and the physical arrangement of parking spaces.
- Balance regional consistency with state-level flexibility. Regional truck parking systems benefit from interoperable technologies and consistent data sharing using XML feeds and APIs, but states still need flexibility to address local site conditions, funding constraints, and other needs.
- Use multiple information dissemination channels. Truck parking availability should be shared through several channels, such as Dynamic Message Signs (DMS), 511 systems, third-party truck parking apps/platforms, and in-cab systems, with safety as the primary objective. Roadside DMS was generally considered the most preferred option by drivers.
- Plan for stakeholder coordination and long-term operations. Successful deployment requires outreach and buy-in from public agencies, private partners, technology providers, and system users. Agencies should also plan for ongoing operations, maintenance costs, and system upgrades from the beginning.
