Motor carrier concerns about transportation problems in Oregon.

PDFTech ReportOR-RD-04-11SR 500-081Motor carriersTransportation planningData analysisTraffic surveysFreight transportationInfrastructureSize and weight regulationsInspectionTraffic safetyTraffic speedConstruction sitesTaxesOregonOregon. Dept. of Transportation. Research GroupKirk, Alan R.Oregon. Dept. of Transportation. Research GroupUS Transportation CollectionThis report summarizes an analysis of data from a statewide survey of freight motor carrier firms, conducted by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) in the summer of 2001, to identify freight industry concerns about problems they encounter on Oregon\ue2\u20ac\u2122s roadways. The survey achieved a 61% response rate, yielding responses from 1,872 firms out of a sample of 3,064. Of respondents who said they encountered problems, about half mentioned concerns related to roadway infrastructure (such as pavement conditions, bridge problems, sharp curves, intersections or lane configurations). About 86% mentioned a variety of non-infrastructure issues. In this followup analysis of non-infrastructure problems, several specific topics of interest to the ODOT Motor Carrier Transportation Division were examined: weight enforcement, vehicle inspections, weight, length and height permits and restrictions; safety concerns; roadway speeds and speed limits; taxes on trucking; and roadway construction zones.Concerns about weight, height and length restrictions and enforcement tended to be somewhat evenly divided between trucking firms who see the restrictions themselves as a problem and those who have concerns about weigh stations and enforcement. Safety concerns tended to center around roadway physical conditions and configuration, and the behavior of other drivers. Truckers\ue2\u20ac\u2122 concerns about speeds focused on the difference in posted speeds for autos versus trucks and the view that truck speeds should be increased. Taxes were cited as a problem by about 6% of those who identified problems. Among those who had concerns about construction zones, delays were a primary concern