A study to determine the correlation between the length of formalized training and the driving/safety records of commercial truck drivers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a direct correlation between the length of formalized training received by truck drivers and the driving record of those drivers. This research further sought to determine if there is a point where formal training is no longer relevant to the driving records of truck drivers due to actual length of time driving (years behind the wheel). This research was done, by examining the training and driving records of 300 drivers from three separate trucking companies in Wisconsin, in November 2001. These drivers were selected at random. The population for this research was all drivers employed by the selected companies, at the time of this research. The sample, 300 drivers, was then selected using the table of Ten Thousand Random Numbers, according to the book Statistical Methods, by George W. Snedecor and William G, Cochran. This information was then analyzed, and correlations of relevant information were determined, according to the charts in Chapter IV of this study. A direct relationship between length of training and driving records of commercial drivers was found by this research as well as a determination as to the relevance of training to driving records in connection with the length of driving for the subjects of this study. This relationship and relevance is described in detail in the following chapters as well as the conclusions and recommendations of the researcher as they relate to the data developed from this research.