Evaluating the Impact of Real-Time Mobility and Travel Time Reliability Information on Truck Drivers’ Routing Decisions

Abstract

This study represents the first research to investigate the impacts of two critical determinants—level of congestion and travel time reliability—on routing decisions with two groups of truck drivers having different levels of awareness of the real-time and the historical traffic conditions on available routes. The research analyzed 14,538 global positioning system devices recording trips on the I-495 crossing through Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC, and 2,166 trips in the Dallas area, to explore how truck drivers make routing decisions based on real-time travel time and reliability information by applying a binary logistic regression model. Researchers found that for truck drivers who are not familiar with the historical traffic and travel time conditions on available routes, real-time congestion information is a significant factor in their routing decision-making process, while travel time reliability is not a major consideration. For frequent truck drivers who are familiar with the historical traffic and travel time conditions on available routes, travel time reliability is a significant factor in their routing decision-making process, and traffic congestion information is not a significant factor. These results bring more accuracy to travel time prediction and provide valuable insights into traffic management and reliability performance measures. Moreover, this research provides statistical evidence proving the potential value of delivering travel time reliability information to drivers, traffic management agencies, and navigation map developers.