Update: CMV Driver Attitude and Behavior Survey

UMassSafe, with support from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, recently conducted an online survey of large truck operators entitled Understand Driving Attitudes and Behaviors Among CMV Drivers. This initial exploratory survey is focused strictly on behavioral beliefs, examining how commercial driver traffic safety culture informs engagement with unsafe behaviors, specifically impaired driving (alcohol, cannabis), and distracted driving (texting) as well as hours-of-service (HOS) compliance. This study tests the hypothesis that drivers with favorable beliefs about the outcomes of these behaviors will self-report engaging these behaviors more often. This study also assesses the influence of some key behavioral beliefs that may determine positive attitudes toward these behaviors.

By determining which beliefs are most strongly associated with these behaviors, it is then possible to suggest strategies to change these beliefs, thereby reducing engagement in the behaviors. Once this initial survey has been completed, the next step would be to conduct a second survey to further examine this model of belief system by looking at large truck operators' attitudes, values and normative beliefs to determine how they influence decisions to engage or not engage in unsafe behaviors.

While responses have been collected, they have not yet been analyzed. An in-depth analysis of findings will be updated here in the near future.