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Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program: A Status Report (2006)

Chapter: Research Results Digest 5

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Suggested Citation:"Research Results Digest 5." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2006. Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program: A Status Report. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/23209.
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Page 1
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Suggested Citation:"Research Results Digest 5." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2006. Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program: A Status Report. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/23209.
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Page 2
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Suggested Citation:"Research Results Digest 5." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2006. Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program: A Status Report. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/23209.
×
Page 3
Page 4
Suggested Citation:"Research Results Digest 5." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2006. Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program: A Status Report. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/23209.
×
Page 4
Page 5
Suggested Citation:"Research Results Digest 5." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2006. Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program: A Status Report. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/23209.
×
Page 5
Page 6
Suggested Citation:"Research Results Digest 5." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2006. Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program: A Status Report. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/23209.
×
Page 6

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Research Results Digest 5 Subject Areas: IV Operations and Safety, VI Public Transit, and VIII Freight Transportation CTBSSP Manager: Christopher W. Jenks December 2006 COMMERCIAL TRUCK AND BUS SAFETY SYNTHESIS PROGRAM Sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration COMMERCIAL TRUCK AND BUS SAFETY SYNTHESIS PROGRAM: A STATUS REPORT This is a staff digest of the progress and status of the Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program, which is administered by the Transportation Research Board. Individual studies for the program are managed by Christopher W. Jenks, Manager, Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program. BACKGROUND The Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program (CTBSSP) is a coop- erative research program sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Adminis- tration (FMCSA) and administered by the Transportation Research Board. The pro- gram was authorized in late 2001 and began in 2002 in support of the FMCSA’s safety research programs. The program initiates three to four syn- thesis studies annually that address con- cerns in the area of commercial truck and bus safety. A synthesis report is a relatively short document (40 to 60 pages) that sum- marizes existing practice in a specific tech- nical area based typically on a literature search and a survey of relevant organiza- tions (e.g., state DOTs, enforcement agen- cies, commercial truck and bus companies, or other organizations appropriate for the specific topic). The program is modeled after the successful synthesis programs currently operated as part of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) and the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP). The primary users of the syntheses are practitioners who Suggestions for synthesis topics may be sent to the CTBSSP Manager at any time. Topics suggested must be accompanied by a brief scope statement, including a discus- sion of the problem (a paragraph or two). A title (preferably 10 words or fewer) and the name and affiliation of the submitter are also necessary. Identification of the in- tended synthesis audience, agencies to be surveyed, and information sources is ap- preciated. Table 4 provides a suggested format for recommended synthesis topics. The CTBSSP Program Oversight Panel meets periodically to select new topics based on funding available. work on issues or problems using diverse approaches in their individual settings. A program oversight panel has been formed for the CTBSSP. Major responsibil- ities of the panel are to (1) provide general oversight of the CTBSSP and its procedures, (2) annually select synthesis topics based on an industrywide solicitation, (3) refine syn- thesis scopes, (4) select researchers to pre- pare each synthesis, (5) review products, and (6) make publication recommendations.

INTRODUCTION Administrators, commercial truck and bus car- riers, government regulators, and researchers con- tinually face problems on which much information already exists, either in documented form or in terms of undocumented experience and practice. Unfortunately, this information is frequently frag- mented, scattered, and underevaluated. Often it is un- known to the person normally responsible for making decisions related to the topic. As a consequence, full knowledge of what has been learned about a problem is frequently not brought to bear on its solution. Costly research findings may go unused, valuable ex- perience may be overlooked, and due consideration may not be given to recommended practices for solv- ing or alleviating the problem. A storehouse of information exists on nearly every subject of concern to commercial truck and bus safety. Much of this information has resulted from both research and the successful application of solu- tions to the challenging issues faced by practitioners in their daily work. Because there has been no sys- tematic means for compiling such useful information and making it available to the entire commercial truck and bus safety community, the CTBSSP was estab- lished to undertake a series of studies to search out and synthesize useful knowledge from all available sources and to prepare documented reports on current practices in the subject areas of concern. Reports from this endeavor constitute the CTBSSP synthesis series, which collects and assembles the various forms of in- formation into single concise documents pertaining to specific commercial truck and bus safety problems or sets of closely related problems. THE CTBSSP This synthesis series reports on various practices in specific technical areas. Each document is a com- pendium of the best knowledge available on mea- sures found to be successful in resolving specific problems. To develop these syntheses in a compre- hensive manner and to ensure inclusion of signifi- cant knowledge, available information assembled from numerous sources, including a large number of relevant organizations, is analyzed. The program oversight panel guides the researchers in organizing and evaluating data collected on each topic and re- views each synthesis report. For each topic, the project objectives are (1) to locate and assemble documented information; (2) to learn what practice has been used for solving or al- leviating problems; (3) to identify all ongoing re- search; (4) to learn what problems remain largely unsolved; and (5) to organize, evaluate, and docu- ment the useful information that is acquired. Each synthesis is an immediately useful docu- ment that records practices that were acceptable within the limitations of the knowledge available at the time of its preparation. As advancement contin- ues, new knowledge can be expected to be added to that now on hand; eventually the synthesis may need to be updated or redone. Selection of Topics The CTBSSP Program Oversight Panel meets periodically to select topics for study as funds are made available. The membership of this panel is given in Table 1. Current funding allows for initia- tion of approximately three to four syntheses per year. The following factors are considered in the se- lection process for synthesis topics: • The problem should be widespread enough to generate broad interest in the synthesis. • The problem should be timely and critical. • The problem is appropriate if current practice is non-uniform or inconsistent from agency to agency or if the validity of some practices ap- pears to be questionable. • The quality and quantity of useful available information should indicate a need to organize and compress that which has already been learned and written on the topic. • The topic should not be one for which ongo- ing research or other activities in progress might be expected to render the synthesis ob- solete shortly after completion. The continued success of this program depends on a constant supply of worthy synthesis topics. Candidate topics are suggested by members of the pro- gram oversight panel and various other sources, in- cluding commercial truck and bus carriers; regulatory enforcement agencies; state DOTs; equipment and service suppliers; research organizations; FMCSA; relevant associations such as the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, American Bus Association, Amer- ican Trucking Associations, and Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association; organized labor; and TRB committees. The interest of those who have 2

recommended topics is sincerely appreciated, and they are urged to continue to suggest topics. Conduct of the Studies Throughout the year, following the program oversight panel’s selection of topics, studies are initiated in the order of priority assigned by the panel. An agreement is negotiated with a consultant to gather information on the topic, synthesize it, and draft a report. Typically, the agreement covers a pe- riod of 10 months. Information gathering and prepa- ration of the first draft of the synthesis report usually 3 Table 1 CTBSSP PROGRAM OVERSIGHT PANEL Name Affiliation Chair Stephen Campbell Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, Washington, DC Member Thomas M. Corsi University of Maryland, College Park, MD Member Dennison Cottrell New York State DOT, Albany, NY Member Nicholas J. Garber University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA Member Alex Guariento Greyhound Lines, Inc., Dallas, TX Member Clyde J. Hart, Jr. American Bus Association, Washington, DC Member Scott Madar ORC Worldwide, Washington, DC Member James W. McFarlin ABF Freight System, Inc., Fort Smith, AR Member David Osiecki American Trucking Associations, Alexandria, VA Member John Siebert Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, Grain Valley, MO Member Larry F. Sutherland HNTB Corporation, Columbus, OH Member R. Greer Woodruff J. B. Hunt Transport, Inc., Lowell, AR Liaison Martin Walker Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Washington, DC Liaison Albert Alvarez Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Washington, DC Liaison David Smith Federal Highway Administration, Washington, DC Liaison William Mahorney Federal Highway Administration, Washington, DC Liaison Michele McMurtry National Transportation Safety Board, Washington, DC Liaison Christopher Zeilinger Community Transportation Association of America, Washington, DC Liaison Greg Hull American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC Liaison Leo Penne American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials, Washington, DC Liaison Richard Pain Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC Liaison Charles Niessner Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC Table 2 SYNTHESIS STUDIES—In Progress as of December 2006 No. Title MC-12 Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver Training Curricula and Delivery Methods and Their Effectiveness (2007) MC-13 Commercial Motor Vehicle Carrier Safety Management Certification (2007) MC-14 The Role of Safety Culture in Preventing Commercial Motor Vehicle Crashes (2007) MC-15 The Impact of Behavior-Based Safety Techniques on Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers (2007) MC-16 Health and Wellness Programs for Commercial Vehicle Drivers (2007)

4Table 3 PUBLISHED CTBSSP SYNTHESES No. Title/Pages/Price 1 Effective Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Management Techniques (2003) 100 pp., $17 2 Security Measures in the Commercial Trucking and Bus Industries (2003) 50 pp., $15 3 Highway/Heavy Vehicle Interaction (2003) 96 pp., $21 4 Individual Differences and the “High-Risk” Commercial Driver (2004) 88 pp., $22 5 Training of Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers (2004) 46 pp., $19 6 Operational Differences and Similarities Among the Motorcoach, School Bus, and Trucking Industries (2005) 47 pp., $15 7 Motorcoach Industry Hours of Service and Fatigue Management Techniques (2005) 46 pp., $15 8 Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver Safety Belt Usage (2005) 52 pp., $16 9 Literature Review on Health and Fatigue Issues Associated with Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver Hours of Work (2005) 196 pp., $29 10 Alternative Truck and Bus Inspection Strategies (2006) 43 pp., $31 takes 8 months. This draft is then reviewed by the program oversight panel. A revised final synthesis report is subsequently submitted. This revised final report is then published in the CTBSSP synthesis series. Studies in Progress as of December 2006 Work is currently under way on the topics listed in Table 2. Questions on these topics should be ad- dressed to Christopher W. Jenks, CTBSSP Manager (e-mail: cjenks@nas.edu and 202/334-3089). Available Publications The syntheses completed under this project are listed in Table 3. Electronic copies of these synthe- ses can be found at http://www.trb.org/crp/ctbssp/ ctbssp.asp. Hard copies of these syntheses can be obtained from the Publications Office, Transpor- tation Research Board, 500 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20001; by calling 202/334- 3213; and through the Internet at www.trb.org/ bookstore. Please send check orders to TRB, Lockbox 289, Washington, D.C., 20055 or fax to 202/334-2519.

Table 4 SUGGESTED FORMAT FOR RECOMMENDED SYNTHESIS TOPICS Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program TITLE: SUBMITTED BY: SCOPE: SYNTHESIS AUDIENCE: AGENCIES TO BE SURVEYED: INFORMATION SOURCES: Preferably 10 words or fewer. Name of submitter and organization. This statement should be brief (i.e., one or two paragraphs), but there is no limit on length. It should describe the problem and identify the parts to be covered by the synthesis. The proposed study should be able to be ac- complished in approximately 400 hours of professional time. Indicate the primary audience(s) for a synthesis in this topic area. A synthesis typically includes a survey of relevant agencies to obtain informa- tion on current practices in the synthesis topic area. Identify agencies (e.g., state DOTs, enforcement agencies, commercial trucking companies, and other appropriate organizations) that should be surveyed for the proposed topic area. Optional—organizations, individuals, or literature references. Submit topics to: Christopher W. Jenks Manager, CTBSSP Transportation Research Board 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 FAX: 202/334-2006 e-mail: cjenks@nas.edu 5

Transportation Research Board 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 These digests are issued in order to increase awareness of research results emanating from projects in the Cooperative Research Programs (CRP). Persons wanting to pursue the project subject matter in greater depth should contact the CRP Staff, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, 500 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001. COPYRIGHT PERMISSION Authors herein are responsible for the authenticity of their materials and for obtaining written permissions from publishers or persons who own the copyright to any previously published or copyrighted material used herein. Cooperative Research Programs (CRP) grants permission to reproduce material in this publication for classroom and not-for-profit purposes. Permission is given with the understanding that none of the material will be used to imply TRB, AASHTO, FAA, FHWA, FMCSA, FTA, or Transit Development Corporation endorsement of a particular product, method, or practice. It is expected that those reproducing the material in this document for educational and not-for-profit uses will give appropriate acknowledgment of the source of any reprinted or reproduced material. For other uses of the material, request permission from CRP.

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TRB's Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program (CTBSSP) Research Results Digest 5: A Status Report describes the progress and status of the Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program (CTBSSP). CTBSSP is a cooperative research program sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and administered by the Transportation Research Board. The program was authorized in late 2001 and began in 2002 in support of the FMCSA's safety research programs.

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