STREAM-OF-TRAFFIC INTERVIEW TRUCK SURVEY: METHODOLOGY AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON TRAFFIC VOLUME THRESHOLDS

Truck survey methods vary in the response rates they generate and in their coverage, accuracy, and cost. Roadside intercept/interview surveys enjoy representation, coverage, and response-rate advantages compared with phone/mail surveys, but in practice they are frequently restricted to weigh stations, toll plazas, and similar controlled facilities. A roadside truck interview survey for Berks County, Pennsylvania was conducted within the stream of traffic in conjunction with distribution of a postcard automobile survey. Over 1,000 interviews conducted throughout the county at five cordon locations representing key two-lane and four-lane roads were compiled. The sampling rate exceeded 22%, and valid response rates were approximately 98%. The information obtained was limited in detail but was sufficient to achieve the study objectives of estimating major internal-external, external-internal, and external-external truck movement patterns for Berks County. The study was not intended to identify internal-internal trips. The purpose, methodology, and advantages and disadvantages of the approach are discussed, and the focus is on the traffic congestion element. Surveys were conducted within a single lane in each direction, restricting traffic flows. At certain traffic volumes (roughly 200 vehicles per 15 min) delays became a significant problem, including several periods during which surveys were not conducted to alleviate traffic backups. The conclusion suggests using this parameter for applying the method to other locations.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198196152200103
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=STREAM-OF-TRAFFIC+INTERVIEW+TRUCK+SURVEY%3A+METHODOLOGY+AND+RECOMMENDATIONS+ON+TRAFFIC+VOLUME+THRESHOLDS&author=D.+Matherly&publication_year=1996
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309062195
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1522, Freight Transportation Data and Planning Issues, Trucking, and Marine Transportation.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Matherly, D W
• Publication Date: 1996

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 18-26
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1522
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Data collection; Interviewing; Roadside; Surveys; Traffic delays; Traffic volume; Travel patterns; Trucks
• Uncontrolled Terms: Roadside surveys; Thresholds
• Geographic Terms: Berks County (Pennsylvania)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Motor Carriers; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00727195
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309062195
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 2 1996 12:00AM