Examining Incentives to Increase the Use of the Truck Stop Electrification Service at Overnight Truck Parking Stations

Overnight idling by diesel-fueled long-haul trucks is a contributor to mobile-source emissions in the Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) region and a detriment to the region’s overall air quality. Truck stop electrification (TSE) systems, also known as electrified parking spaces (EPS), are commercial products that provide an alternative for truck drivers to idling their engines during rest periods. Anecdotal evidence indicates that truck drivers often park in the spaces designated for TSE/EPS systems without using the service and idle their engines overnight in the DFW region. The objectives of this study are to: 1) collect field data to establish the TSE/EPS usage rates at three stations in the DFW area, 2) conduct a survey of drivers, truck stop/terminal owners, TSE/EPS system providers, and on-site TSE/EPS system representatives at these stations to identify common reasons for idling engines during rest periods while having access to the TSE/EPS systems, and 3) recommend proper incentives for drivers to use TSE/EPS systems and truck stop/terminal owners to encourage truck drivers to use TSE/EPS systems. The results of the data collection show that the rate of engine idling and TSE/EPS usage rate vary significantly across the stations; the private terminal had the lowest rate of idling compared to the public service stations since the terminal is fully controlled by a manager. The results of the survey show that drivers mostly prefer direct and monetary incentives, such as coupons for truck stop showers, foods, and laundry services. The results also show that one way to motivate truck stop owners is to offer them fixed-rate revenues. Moreover, the best incentive for TSE/EPS system providers is supporting them to modernize and update TSE/EPS equipment.