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Abstract:
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Motor carrier safety is a high priority due to the significant economic and social consequences from commercial vehicle crashes. In this study, we examine carrier level differences and the impact on crashes and safety performance in terms of driver, vehicle, and management structure. The Motor Carrier Management Information System is a database that includes carrier-level data from roadside inspections and is used to maintain a comprehensive safety record of property and passenger carriers. Using this data, a hierarchical model was developed at the carrier level to identify reliable safety performance measures in terms of crash occurrence. The model accounts for the heterogeneity among carrier groups of different size. Given the variations across states in terms of frequency of roadside inspections and the criteria associated with them, a second hierarchical model was developed to explore inspection-level factors affecting safety performance measures. The model results showed that larger carriers have higher safety performance while smaller carriers tend to have more traffic violations and more safety issues related to driver health and vehicle maintenance.
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