Drivers: please complete this important survey on paper, and return to your employer or mail directly to us as noted at the end of the survey. The survey aims to help the trucking sector & drivers with parking & financial & other impacts, and should only take about 15 minutes, as we ask only about main highways you use.
Truck Parking and Rest Areas Along Southern Ontario Highways A Study for the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, with support of Canadian Trucking Associations ______
Drivers! Tell the Ministry of Transportation how to improve access to parking and make your life easier. Improved truck parking will help to reduce the time you have to spend looking for parking, reduce stress and fatigue and reduce financial losses.
If you have driven on Southern Ontario highways for at least 2 days in the past 12 months, we would greatly appreciate your completing our survey.
This study, initiated by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, is supported by trucking/drivers' associations across Canada. We are asking for your assessments because we feel that truck drivers are the most knowledgeable about the truck parking shortage and are best able to provide recommendations to the Ministry regarding the development of new or improved parking and rest areas.
The survey asks about the challenges you may have faced trying to find suitable parking on specific highways and the amenities that are currently provided at truck stops. We would like to hear from all truck drivers who use Southern Ontario highways, whether or not based in Ontario. By asking about the extent to which existing truck stops meet drivers' needs, we can make more informed recommendations to the province regarding improvement of truck parking and rest areas.
Your identifiable answers will be kept confidential not be shared with anyone outside of the SPR research team. SPR's 30-year track record in surveys supports this guarantee. A summary report of the findings will be made available to participants. ______
Part 1: Demographic and General Questions
The following questions will aid the researchers in generalizing the results to all drivers.
1. As a commercial truck driver, approximately how many days in the past 12 months have you spent driving on Southern Ontario highways? (Select one) Less than 20 days 20 - 50 days 51 - 100 days 101 - 200 days More than 200 days
2. Are you: (Select one) An employee of a trucking company An employee of a trucking division in a larger company An independent owner-operator Other (please specify): ______
3. Where are you based? Newfoundland/Labrador Ontario Yukon New Brunswick Manitoba NWT PEI Saskatchewan Nunavut Nova Scotia Alberta USA Quebec BC 1 4. What is your overall assessment of the availability of safe and sufficient truck parking along Southern Ontario highways? (Select one) There is a severe shortage of truck parking There is a noteworthy and significant shortage of truck parking The shortage of truck parking is not very severe There is no shortage of truck parking Cannot assess
5. Have you experienced financial loss or personal stress in the past year due to a lack of truck parking along Southern Ontario highways? (Select all that apply) Yes, financial loss (e.g. in terms of lost hours of work) Yes, personal stress (e.g. anger, anxiety, lost sleep) No
6. Which of the following sections of Southern Ontario highways have you used substantially in the past 12 months? (Select all that apply) Windsor-to-Toronto section of the 401 (assuming Yonge Street is the dividing line between east and west sections of the 401) Toronto-to-Quebec border section of the 401 (assuming Yonge Street is the dividing line between east and west sections of the 401) Other 400 series highways in Southern Ontario Secondary provincial highways (non-400 series) in Southern Ontario
What makes a good truck stop? 7. How important is it to have the following features and services/amenities at truck stops/rest areas? (Select one for each of (a) to (n)) Not at all Somewhat Absolutely Important Important Essential (a) Adequate types and numbers of truck parking spaces, year-round (b) Being able to park for 8-12 hours, year-round (c) Being able to park without a fee (d) Not having to buy fuel in order to park (e) Washrooms that are open 24/7, year-round (f) Restaurant that is open 24/7, year-round (g) Access to showers 24/7, year-round (h) Access to a truckers' lounge 24/7, year-round (i) Electrical charging station 24/7, year-round (j) Access to free WiFi 24/7, year-round (k) A high level of security/safety (l) Adequate lighting (m) Healthy food choices (n) Exercise facilities
2 Part 2: Highway use, the need for truck parking, and truck stop services and amenities
Use of the Windsor-to-Toronto Section of the 401 in the Past 12 Months
8. Have you used the Windsor-to-Toronto section of the 401 for your work in the past 12 months? Yes, used frequently Yes, but used only occasionally (SKIP TO Q.14) No (SKIP TO Q.14) 9. For each of the following western segments of the 401, please indicate if you used the segment and tell us about your parking experience over the past 12 months: Did you use this Were you always able section of highway 401 to park at a truck stop in the past 12 months? when you needed to? Yes No Yes No (a) Windsor to Chatham-Kent (b) Chatham-Kent to London (c) London to Cambridge (d) Cambridge to Toronto
10. How many times (if any) did you have difficulty finding parking along the above segments of the western 401 or in nearby cities in the past 12 months? Never had any difficulty finding parking (SKIP TO Q.12) 1 - 5 times 6 - 10 times 11 - 25 times 26 - 50 times More than 50 times
11. On average, how many hours of productive driving did you lose each time you had difficulty parking and had to look for parking or had to move at the request of the OPP/other authorities? Less than 1 hour 1 - 2 hours 3 - 4 hours 5 - 6 hours 7 - 8 hours More than 8 hours
Truck parking along the Windsor-to-Toronto Section of Highway 401
12. Are you familiar enough with truck stops along the Windsor-Toronto section of the 401 to rate the quality of truck stops, parking and their services/amenities along this section of the 401? Yes No (SKIP TO Q.14)
3 13. For each of the following truck stops along the Windsor-to-Toronto section of the 401 that you may have used in the past 12 months and you are familiar with, please indicate your satisfaction with the parking and amenities offered at each (e.g. you were able to park and the services/facilities allowed you to fully rest and prepare for your next driving shift). (If you did not use a truck stop, please leave that choice blank.) Services/amenities Able to easily offered were fully find parking satisfactory Yes No Yes No (a) Flying J Travel Plaza - Exit 56, Tilbury (b) ONroute Tilbury North (c) ONroute Tilbury South (d) ONroute Dutton (e) ONroute West Lorne (f) Flying M Truck Stop/Davis Fuel, London (g) Petro Pass Truck Stop - Exit 186, London (h) Flying J - Exit 189, London (i) Husky Travel Centre - Exit 195, London (j) Husky Travel Centre, Belmont (k) ONroute Ingersoll (l) ONroute Woodstock (m) TA Travel Centre -- Exit 230, Woodstock (n) Truckers Haven - Exit 250, Drumbo (o) Flying J Travel Plaza - Exit 268, Ayr (p) Petro Canada - Exit 268, Kitchener (q) ONroute Cambridge North (r) ONroute Cambridge South (s) Truck Town Terminal, Milton (t) Husky Travel Centre, Shawson Dr., Mississauga (u) Husky Travel, 6625 Kennedy Rd., Mississauga (v) Petro Canada - Trafalgar Road, Hornby (w) Esso - Daniels Service Centre, Ridgetown (x) Petro Pass, Dorchester (y) Petro Pass -- County Road 46, Windsor (z) Husky Travel Centre - Exit 14, Windsor
4 Use of the Toronto-to-Quebec Section of Highway 401 in the Past 12 Months
14. Have you used highway 401 between Toronto and the Quebec border for your work in the past 12 months? Yes, used frequently Yes, but used only occasionally (SKIP TO Q.20) No (SKIP TO Q.20) 15. For each of the following eastern sections of the 401, please indicate your parking experience over the past 12 months, when you were at the end of your hours of service (HOS) or when you needed to rest: Did you use this Were you always able section of highway 401 to park at a truck stop in the past 12 months? when you needed to? Yes No Yes No (a) Quebec border to Kingston (b) Kingston to Belleville (c) Belleville to Toronto
16. How many times (if any) did you have difficulty finding parking along the above sections of the eastern 401 or in nearby cities in the past 12 months? Never had any difficulty finding parking (SKIP TO Q.18) 1 - 5 times 6 - 10 times 11 - 25 times 26 - 50 times More than 50 times
17. On average, how many hours of productive driving did you lose each time you had difficulty parking and had to search for parking or had to move at the request of the OPP/other authorities? Less than 1 hour 1 - 2 hours 3 - 4 hours 5 - 6 hours 7 - 8 hours More than 8 hours
Truck parking along the Toronto-to-Quebec section of highway 401
18. Are you familiar enough with truck stops along the Toronto-to-Quebec section of the 401 to rate the quality of truck stops along this section of the 401? Yes No (SKIP TO Q.20)
5 19. For each of the following truck stops along the Toronto to Quebec section of the 401 that you may have used in the past 12 months and you are familiar with, please indicate your satisfaction with the parking and services/amenities offered at each (e.g. you were able to park and fully rest and prepare for your next driving shift). (If you did not use a truck stop, please leave that choice blank.) Services/amenities Able to easily offered were fully find parking satisfactory Yes No Yes No (a) ONroute, Bainsville (b) Flying J, Bainsville (c) Flying J, Lancaster Travel Plaza (d) Petro Canada, Exit 804, Summerstown (e) Cornwall Esso - Exit 796 (f) Irving 24 International, Cornwall (g) MacEwan Petroleum, Exit 796, Cornwall (h) Angelo's Truck Stop, Spencerville (i) Ultramar-Pipeline, Prescott (j) ONroute Ingleside (k) ONroute Morrisburg (l) ONroute Mallorytown South (m) ONroute Mallorytown (n) Husky Travel Centre, Joyceville (o) Exit 611 Truckstop & Travel Plaza, Kingston (p) Petro Pass - Centennial Drive, Kingston (q) ONroute Odessa (r) ONroute Napanee (s) Flying J Travel Plaza, Napanee (t) Ten Acre Truck Stop, Belleville (u) Ultramar-Pipeline - Exit 538, Belleville (v) ONroute Trenton North (w) ONroute Trenton South (x) Ultramar - Exit 464, Port Hope (y) ONroute Port Hope (z) ONroute Newcastle (z1) Petro Canada - Alliance Road, Pickering Use of Other 400 series highways in the Past 12 Months
20. Have you used any other 400 series highway for your work in the past 12 months? Yes, used frequently Yes, but used only occasionally (SKIP TO Q.26) No (SKIP TO Q.26)
6 21. For each of the following 400 series highways, please indicate your parking experience over the past 12 months, when you were at the end of your hours of service (HOS) or when you needed to rest: Did you use Were you always able this highway in to park at a truck stop the past 12 months? when you needed to? Yes No Yes No QEW Highway 400 Highway 402 Highway 403 Highway 404 Highway 405 Highway 406 Highway 407 Highway 409 Highway 410 Highway 412 Highway 416 Highway 417 Highway 420 Highway 427
22. How many times (if any) did you have difficulty finding parking along the above 400 series highways or in nearby cities in the past 12 months? Never had any difficulty finding parking (SKIP TO Q.24) 1 - 5 times 6 - 10 times 11 - 25 times 26 - 50 times More than 50 times
23. On average, how many hours of productive driving did you lose each time you had difficulty parking and had to search for parking or had to move at the request of the OPP/other authorities? Less than 1 hour 1 - 2 hours 3 - 4 hours 5 - 6 hours 7 - 8 hours More than 8 hours
Truck parking along other 400 series highways in Southern Ontario
24. Are you familiar enough with truck stops along other 400 series highways to rate the quality of truck stops along other 400 series highways in Southern Ontario? Yes No (SKIP TO Q.26)
7 25. For each of the following truck stops along the 400 series of highways that you may have used in the past 12 months and you are familiar with, please indicate your satisfaction with the parking and services/amenities offered at each (e.g. you were able to park and the services/facilities allowed you to fully rest for your next driving shift). (If you did not use a truck stop, please leave that choice blank.) Services/amenities Able to easily offered were fully find parking satisfactory Yes No Yes No (a) Herbs Travel Plaza, Vankleek Hill (b) Antrim Truck Centre, Arnprior (c) Ultramar-Pipeline - Hawthorne Road, Ottawa (d) Esso Card Lock, Dunvegan (e) ONroute King City (f) ONroute Maple (g) Husky Travel Centre, Bradford (h) ONroute Barrie (i) ONroute Innisfil (j) Esso - 7300 Dixie Road, Mississauga (k) Petro Canada, Parkdale Ave. N., Hamilton (l) Esso 402 Service Centre - Sarnia (m) Esso Sarnia Service Centre, Wyoming (n) Sarnia Truck Stop (BVD), Ube Road, Sarnia Use of Other (Secondary) Provincial Highways in Southern Ontario
The following questions ask about non-400 Provincial highways in Southern Ontario that you may have used in the past 12 months.
26. In the past 12 months, have you used any of the provincial highways that appear south of the dark line on the map above? Yes, used frequently Yes, but used only occasionally (SKIP TO Q.32) No (SKIP TO Q.32)
8 27. For each of the following sets of highways in Southern Ontario, please indicate your parking experience over the past 12 months, when you were at the end of your hours of service (HOS) or when you needed to rest: Did you use any of Were you always able these highways in to park at a truck stop the past 12 months? when you needed to? Yes No Yes No Southwestern Ontario (highways #3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 21, 23, 26, 40, 93) Central Ontario (highways #7, 9, 12, 35, 48, 69, 89, 115) Southeastern Ontario (highways #7, 7A, 17, 28, 35, 37, 41, 62, 115)
28. How many times (if any) did you have difficulty finding parking along any of the above highways or in nearby cities in the past 12 months? Never had any difficulty finding parking (SKIP TO Q.30) 1 - 5 times 6 - 10 times 11 - 25 times 26 - 50 times More than 50 times
29. On average, how many hours of productive driving did you lose each time you had difficulty parking and had to search for parking or had to move at the request of the OPP/other authorities? Less than 1 hour 1 - 2 hours 3 - 4 hours 5 - 6 hours 7 - 8 hours More than 8 hours
Truck stops & rest areas along non-400 series highways in three regions
30. Are you familiar enough with truck stops along the non-400 series highways to rate the quality of truck stops along these highways? Yes No (SKIP TO Q.32)
9 31. For each of the following truck stops along non-400 series highways that you may have used in the past 12 months and you are familiar with, please indicate your satisfaction with the parking and amenities offered at each (e.g. you were able to park and the services/facilities allowed you to fully rest for your next driving shift). (If you did not use a truck stop, please leave that choice blank.) Services/amenities Able to easily offered were fully find parking satisfactory Yes No Yes No (a) Petro Canada - Listowel (b) McRobert Fuels - Strathroy (c) Esso Key to the Highway - Comber (d) Johnny's Gas Bar - West Leamington (e) Petro Canada - Walker Road - Windsor (f) Husky Travel Centre - Niagara-on-the-Lake (g) Petro Canada - Concord (h) Petro Pass - Hwy 50 & Rutherford Rd, Vaughan (i) Flying J Fuel Stop - Mississauga (j) Irving Pembroke Big Stop (k) Petro Canada, Hwy 35/115, Orono
The following questions will help the researchers to better understand the impacts of a lack of parking and to generalize the results to the larger population of truck drivers. All responses will be kept strictly confidential and your identifiable responses will only be seen by SPR's researchers.
32. What is your gender? Female Male Other Prefer not to answer
33. What is your age? 35 or under 36-55 56-65 Over 65 Prefer not to answer
34. Is your usual vehicle equipped with a sleeper berth? Yes No
35. Is your usual vehicle an LCV? Yes No
36. Do you usually drive alone or with a partner? Usually alone Usually with a partner
10 37. In the past 12 months, how many times were you unable to park easily because you were not able to determine if there were vacant parking spots at a particular truck stop? Never 1-3 times 4-6 times More than 6 times
38. How many times in the past 12 months were you unable to park easily because recreational vehicles were parked in all of the truck spaces at a truck stop? Never 1-3 times 4-6 times More than 6 times
39. In the past 12 months, how many times did you have to end your driving shift early because you could not reach a rest stop before you reached your hours of service? Never (SKIP TO Q.41) 1-3 times 4-6 times More than 6 times
40. On average, how much driving did you lose each time you had to stop your shift early? 1-2 hours 3-4 hours 5-6 hours More than 6 hours
41. In the past 12 months, how often have delays unloading at your customer's facilities been a major problem for you? Never (SKIP TO Q.44) 1-5 times 6-10 times 11-25 times 26-50 times More than 50 times
42. Did this delay result in you experiencing difficulty parking? Yes No
43. On average, how much driving time did you lose each time you had difficulty with delays unloading at receiving facilities? 1-2 hours 3-4 hours 5-6 hours More than 6 hours
44. In your opinion, should receiving facilities play a greater role in providing truck parking? Yes No Not certain
11 45. In the past 12 months, how many times did you drive so long that you experienced extreme fatigue? Never 1-5 times 6-10 times 11-25 times 26-50 times More than 50 times
46. On average, how many hours of sleep are you able to get in each 24-hour period when you are driving? Less than 6 hours 6 hours 7 hours 8 hours More than 8 hours
The following question is being asked to help us understand how a lack of parking affects drivers' health.
47. Considering the past month, how would you rate your health overall? Excellent Good Fair Poor Prefer not to answer
48. Has difficulty parking created stress for you or negatively affected your health? Yes No Prefer not to answer
Part 3: Your Suggestions for Improving the Truck Parking Situation
49. Do you use any information systems or apps to help you find parking when you need it? Yes No (SKIP TO Q.51)
50. Please describe what systems or apps you use, how well they work and what steps, if any, the Province or the trucking sector could take to improve these systems:
12 51. Do you use Ontario511.ca to obtain information to assist you when planning your travel route? Yes, use frequently Yes, use occasionally No
52. Which truck stop/rest area that you have used in the past 12 months has provided the best services overall? What made it the best?
53. If you have any other comments or suggestions about truck parking and rest areas along Southern Ontario highways, please provide them below:
54. What is the most important thing that could be done to improve truck parking along Southern Ontario highways?
55. Near which three cities in Southern Ontario is additional truck parking most needed?
1. ______2. ______3. ______
56. In the past 12 months, what was the worst experience you had as a result of having difficulty finding parking, in terms of lost hours of productive driving time?
13 57. In the past 12 months, what was the worst experience you had as a result of having difficulty finding parking, in terms of personal stress (anger, anxiety, loss of sleep)?
58. Would you like to receive a brief summary of the survey findings which is expected to be prepared in April 2018? No Yes (please provide your email): ______
The following question will help us thank those who helped promote this survey:
59. How did you find out about this survey? (Select all that apply) Through social media (please specify):
On a radio show (please specify):
From your employer or company you contract with (please specify):
From a trucking association (please specify):
From an association of independent owner-operators (please specify):
Other (please specify):
______
Thank you very much for taking the time to complete this survey!
Please return your survey to the person that you received it from so they can sent it to us, or you can mail your completed survey to: Ontario Truck Stop Survey, c/o SPR Associates 18-260 Adelaide Street East Toronto, ON M5A 1N1
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