A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARJA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE (MSC) DEGREE IN TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT

Thesis Abstract

Trucking hasbecome the major and most important mean of transporting goods in Nigeria as a

result of the collapse of the rail means. Due to the bad nature of the roads that these trucks/tankers pass through, the state of the trucks and the fact that most designated truck park are not fully developed. This has resulted in these trucks/tankers converging on towns on their routes from origin to destination known as rest stations. This study examines the socio-economic activities of trucking between Mararaban Jos and Tafa, two rest stations along the Abuja-Zaria road corridor. The aim of the study is to compare the socio-economic activities of trucking between Mararaban Jos and Tafa, while the objectives was to determine the socio-demographic characteristics of truckers making use of the rest stations, assess the impact of trucking on trading/business related to trucking in these rest stations, asses the trucking facilities in the rest stations, assess the impact of truck drivers on the social life style of the resident of the study area and assess the impact of trucking on the environment of the rest stations.

In achieving this, the methodology adopted for this research work was the quantitative research method; this was done through the administration of questionnaires in the rest stations. A total of 134 copies of questionnaire were administered to the resident of the two rest stations out of which 96 were recovered. Also, 61 copies of questionnaire were administered to truckers in the two rest stations out of which 59 were recovered. Data collected from the field was presented using tabular presentation after which they were analyzed. Equally, certain variable were cross tabulated for further analysis.

After analysis, it was discovered that most trading/business activities in the rest stations are related to trucking and trucking activities and that trucking in the reststations greatly impact on the profit margin of businesses in the area(61.1% in Mararaban Jos and 53.8% in Tafa), and that trucking equally impact negatively on their social life style (100% in Mararaban Jos and 100% in Tafa) and environment (100% in Mararaban Jos and 100% in Tafa).

Recommendations stated in this work includes, a holistic approach towards the development of the two truck parks in the rest stations, relocation of truckers to these parks after the development of the parks, encouragement                                     of small scale business in the town since they provide source of living and employments to residents. Discouragement of illicit hard drug trade and prostitution in the town.