FMCSA solicits input on methodology for major truck crash study

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is inviting comments on how to format and conduct a study aimed at identifying factors contributing to large truck crashes. In a formal Request for Information (RFI), the agency seeks “how best to balance sample representativeness, comprehensive data sources, ranges of crash types, and cost efficiency.”

“The study should be designed to yield information that will help FMCSA and the truck safety community identify activities and other measures likely to lead to significant reductions in the frequency, severity, and crash rate involving commercial motor vehicles,” the agency states in a Federal Register notice on the RFI. “As practicable, the study shall rank such activities and measures by the reductions each would likely achieve, if implemented.” Survey methodology should also weigh the use of electronic on-board recording devices, which provide information about speeding, lane departure, and hard braking.

An inaugural Large Truck Crash Causal Study (LTCCS) was completed in 2003. This year’s follow-up research responds to many changes in collision prevention and other vehicle safety technologies, along with roadway design affecting heavy-duty truck driver behavior. In the 15-plus years since the first study, FMCSA observes, fatal crashes involving large trucks decreased through 2009, hitting a low point of 2,893, but steadily climbed thereafter, to 4,415 in 2018. A current LTCCS will help the agency pinpoint factors that are contributing to the growth in fatal crashes, and in injury or property damage-only incidents. Agency staff will especially note how stakeholders cite distraction caused by cell phone usage; driver restraint device usage; in-cab navigation and fleet management systems; and, safety mechanisms such as automatic emergency braking systems.

“FMCSA is seeking information on the most effective methodology for best collecting a representative set of data for identifying the primary factors involved in large truck crashes,” the agency concludes.



The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association entered 2020 with a themed series advancing accident prevention and workforce well being. Monthly Safety Initiative pdf will be posted at www.nrmca.org/operations. The series dovetails an industry-wide safety campaign, ThinkFirst, NRMCA unveiled last fall during its ConcreteWorks Conference. ThinkFirst emphasizes thoughtful and strategic actions throughout the order production and delivery cycle, and will lead to a decrease in injuries, illnesses and fatalities while increasing worker retention and positive workplace morale.