The Road Freight Transport And The Need Of Safe And Secure Truck Parking Areas

Freight transport by road is by far the most important inland freight mode in almost all countries worldwide. Increasing attention is paid to ameliorate working conditions of truck drivers, primarily their safety and security. The European Union (EU) has recently set up standards for safe and secure truck parking areas (SSTPAs), mainly to host compulsory break/rests that drivers should take in compliance with existing regulations on maximum driving times. This paper proposes a quantitative methodology to assess the need for SSTPAs in Italy. A road network supply model is implemented to calculate rest locations for each origin-destination pair, and a demand analysis is carried out to prioritize investments for SSTPAs. Both national and international road freight transport are considered. Relevant policy implications and research perspectives are presented.