The goal was to quantify the behavioural impacts of Covid-19 ELD regulation relaxations, providing evidence for evaluating future policy adjustments that balance safety with operational flexibility.
Our Approach:
- Trip Analysis – Analysed GPS data for all trips entering or leaving Oregon, identifying stop locations and classifying them as inside or outside carrier facilities.
- ELD Break Behaviour Assessment – Measured driving time before mandated ELD breaks for both pre-Covid and post-Covid periods to detect behavioural changes.
- Data Integration & Comparative Analysis – Combined parking and ELD timing data into a single framework, enabling direct comparison between the two timeframes.
Key Findings:
- Shift in Break Timing – Evidence of changes in the length of drive time before taking an ELD break under relaxed regulations.
- High-Use Parking Locations – Identified parking hotspots outside carrier facilities, providing insight into infrastructure demand.
- Policy-Relevant Behaviour Changes – Highlighted adjustments in compliance patterns that could influence future regulatory frameworks.
Impact:
- Support for Policy Evaluation – Equipped Portland State University with empirical evidence to assess the real-world effects of regulatory changes.
- Parking Infrastructure Insight – Provided data on where improvements or additional capacity could alleviate parking shortages.
- Academic Contribution – Findings are being formalised into a research paper, expanding the academic and industry discourse on regulatory flexibility.
