ATRI Asks Truckers for Views on Barriers to Female Drivers
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The viewpoints of both men and women in the professional truck driving field are being sought in a survey launched Jan. 3 by the American Transportation Research Institute that aims to hear their views on barriers women face in pursuing driving careers.
“I strongly encourage my fellow drivers to take a few minutes to complete ATRI’s survey and make our collective voice heard,” said Rhonda Hartman, a truck driver for Old Dominion Freight Line and an America’s Road Team captain for American Trucking Associations. “Once again ATRI is providing truck drivers the opportunity to provide input on critical research that will ultimately make our workplace better.”
Included in the survey are questions about average lengths-of-haul drivers cover, and whether they drive truckload, less-than-truckload, specialized or another category. Drivers are also asked to describe the type of commercial truck they last drove, such as a tractor-trailer combination or straight truck.
The survey seeks drivers’ views and experiences both when they were considering a career as a truck driver as well as when they were obtaining their commercial driver license training.
Hartman
One section of the questionnaire is focused on challenges encountered as a truck driver, while another asks former professional truck drivers why they left the industry. Responses from both current and previous CDL holders are sought.
“This research was identified as a top priority by ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee to address workforce shortages, safety concerns for women drivers, and identify steps the industry can take to increase the percentage of women drivers,” ATRI stated.
Drivers may participate in the confidential online survey until Feb. 2. Participants will remain anonymous, and responses will be reported only in an aggregated group form in a nonidentifying format. The survey can be found at: https://www.research.net/r/Dvr-Women-Challenges-2023.
ATRI, a nonprofit research organization involved since 1954 in transportation studies and operational tests, noted that survey goals include learning about challenges truck drivers encounter while training, on the road and at parking facilities. Input from both women and men will be used to pinpoint and contrast unique challenges female drivers encounter, it said.
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