ASSESSING PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES OF TRUCK TRANSIT PARKS MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The importance of truck transit parks or facilities cannot be overemphasized. This is because these
facilities provide rest for drivers and vehicle maintenance services with a view to reducing accidents.
In Nigeria, there is inadequate truck transit parking facilities for articulated vehicles and other long
distance vehicles due to inefficient parking management practice. This has posed a lot of logistical
challenges. This study assesses the prospects and challenges of truck transit parks/facilities in Nigeria
based on the following objectives: the identification of truck transit parking management concepts,
determination of the challenges hindering truck transit parking management practice and
determination of the benefits of truck transits/facilities. A total of 300 questionnaires were
administered to consultants, contractors, clients, commuters, drivers and transporters. One hundred
and eighty questionnaires were returned representing 60% valid response rate and subsequently
analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid statistical package for social sciences
(SPSS) software. The study determines the following: Facility costs: increased development and
operating costs for parking facilities, Environmental impacts: loss of green space, air pollution,
Sprawl: encouraging dispersed, urban fringe development, and discouraging multi-model, Inequity:
distribution of costs, including cost burdens on people who do not use parking facilities among others
as the problems hindering truck transit parking management practice in Kaduna. The benefits of truck
transit parking management determined in this study include: Reduce accidents, support transit,
support equity objectives, revenue generation and improved service qualityamong others.It can be
deduced that challenges determined in this study affect or hinder TTP management practice.
Conclusively, the benefits of TTP management practice determined in this study can only be achieved
if suitable TTP management strategies are employed. Adopting suitable strategies for TTP
management practice will help in mitigating these challenges determined in this study. In a nutshell,
the current truck transit parks management practice is faced with some problems which in turn affects
its practice. Conclusively, the benefits of TTP management practice can only be achieved if suitable
TTP management strategies are employed.

Keywords: Truck Transit Parks, Transportation, Logistical Challenge, Parking Management Benefits