Office of Research and Information Technology Entry Level Training Research Plan December 3, 2012 Martin R. Walker, Chief, Research Division

1 Office of Research and Information Technology  Background  Research Questions  Important Data Elements  Survey Background  Entry Level Training Research  Training Research Roadmap Agenda

2 Office of Research and Information Technology Background  Adequacy Report (1995)  Three Commercial Truck and Bus Synthesis Program Studies (CTBSSP)  CTBSSP #1, Effective CMV Safety Mgmt Techniques (2003)  CTBSSP #5, Training of CMV Drivers (2004)  CTBSSP #13, Effectiveness of CMV Driver Training Curricula and Delivery Methods (2007)  Commercial Motor Vehicle Driving Simulator Validation Study (2010)  ATRI Study (2010)  Teen Driver Studies

3 Office of Research and Information Technology  Do entry level CMV drivers who receive formal CDL training have a significantly better safety record than drivers who do not receive formal CDL training?  Does the total length of training received by entry level truck drivers correlate positively with improved driver safety performance?  Does the length of behind-the-wheel training hours received by entry level drivers correlate positively with improved driver safety performance?  Are certain elements of the training curricula good predictors of driver safety performance? Research Questions

4 Office of Research and Information Technology Important Data Elements Safety Outcomes  DOT reportable crashes  Fatal  Injury  Tow-Away Property Damage Only (PDO)  Traffic convictions  Driver FMCSR violations  Non-DOT reportable crashes (PDO) Predictor Variables  Entry level driver training type  Demographic data  Age and Gender  Operation type  Carrier finishing training  Carrier management practice  Length of employment  Mileage

5 Office of Research and Information Technology Entry Level Training Research Study #1: Entry Level Driver Training Survey Survey CMV drivers to determine whether training had an impact on their safety record. Study #2: (a) CDL Training Program & Carrier Focused Research Collect data from CDL training programs and motor carriers to analyze relationship of type/length of training to safety performance. (b) Evaluation of States with Driver Training Requirements Compare driver safety records from States with some type of formalized entry level training requirements

6 Office of Research and Information Technology  Random survey of 10,000-30,000 new CDL holders Type of CDL training received Driver demographics Employment history and operation type Vehicle miles traveled  Retrospective case-control study design  Conduct statistical analysis of CDLIS and MCMIS safety records by type of training received  Due - September 2014  Study Team: Volpe Center Study #1: Entry Level Driver Training Survey

7 Office of Research and Information Technology  Literature search augmentation –  What can be learned from EU’s 5 ‑ year driver recertification program.  What may be relevant from the motorcoach experience, where many larger carriers provide carrier based finishing training using FMCSA’s model curriculum.  Possibly relevant inputs from other DOT modes and military.  Carrier Based Research–from a sample of carriers obtain −Driver identification information −Type and length of training received by those drivers −In-house safety performance data −Obtain CDLIS and MCMIS data for those drivers.  Analyze relationship to safety performance of type/length of training  Solicit carrier qualitative perceptions about differences associated with type of training received by the driver Study #2(a): CDL Training Program & Carrier Focused Research

8 Office of Research and Information Technology  Insurance Providers –  Determine if any track training effectiveness, for either entry level or remedial driver training.  Training School Curriculum –  Obtain cooperation of a range of CDL schools to obtain identification data on graduates.  Compare the safety performance data (CDLIS and MCMIS) of their graduates with the type of training program received by those drivers.  Due May 2014  Study Team: Maineway Services Study #2(a) Cont: CDL Training Program & Carrier Focused Research

9 Office of Research and Information Technology  Compare driver safety records from a State with some type of formalized entry level training requirements to a State without any entry level training requirements  Washington vs. Oregon  Does not account for possible confounding factors  Difficulty in adjusting crash data for exposure  Due May 2014  Study Team: Maineway Services Study #2(b)(i): Evaluation of State(s) with Driver Training Requirements

10 Office of Research and Information Technology  Compare driver safety records from a state(s) who requires commercial providers of CDL training to use an in-State standardized training curriculum, with safety records of same State’s drivers who received out-of- State training with non-standardized training curriculum.  Does not account for possible confounding factors  Difficulty in adjusting crash data for exposure  Due May 2014  Study Team: Maineway Services Study #2(b)(ii): Evaluation of Effectiveness of Standardized State Training Curriculum

11 Office of Research and Information Technology Training Research Roadmap  Conducting all studies:  Study #1: Entry Level Driver Training Survey, (Due 9/2014)  Study #2(a): CDL Training Program & Carrier Focused Research, (Due May 2014)  Study #2(b): Evaluation of States with Driver Training Requirements (Due May 2014) Training Research Roadmap CompletedPlanned Drivers Training of CMV Drivers #1. Entry Level Driver Training Survey Carrier & School Effectiveness of CMV Driver Training Curricula and Delivery Methods #2(a). CDL Training Program & Carrier Focused Research State CMV Driving Simulator Validation Study #2(b). Evaluation of States with Driver Training Requirements