FMCSA Report Presents Findings to Fight Harassment, Assaults In opposition to Truck Drivers
The Federal Motor Provider Security Administration employed Battelle Memorial Institute of Columbus, Ohio, to conduct the research. (Division of Transportation)
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Harassment and assaults in opposition to truck drivers are a key concern, notably amongst ladies and minority male drivers, in line with a brand new research and survey commissioned by the Federal Motor Provider Security Administration.
“Harassment is extra prone to occur at truck stops, locations the place truck drivers choose up or ship cargo, and fueling stations,” concluded the two-year research by Battelle Memorial Institute, a personal nonprofit utilized science and expertise improvement firm in Columbus, Ohio.
FMCSA’s Workplace of Evaluation, Analysis, and Know-how contracted the “Crime Prevention for Truckers Research” for about 5 years to raised perceive the character and prevalence of harassment and assaults in opposition to truckers, and to be helpful for motor carriers, truck cease operators, regulation enforcement personnel and others of their efforts to handle the issue. The research additionally included a survey of the literature.
Among the research’s conclusions — additionally based mostly partly on the survey of feminine, minority and different drivers — included:
Final week, FMCSA launched the outcomes of a Crime Prevention for Truckers Research, giving WOTAB a direct subject to handle. You may overview the outcomes of the research at https://t.co/rVB4IUxqkR.
— FMCSA (@FMCSA) November 18, 2022
- Threats of hurt and precise bodily hurt are the most typical forms of crimes dedicated in opposition to ladies and minority truckers, however they don’t seem to be of the identical nature. Components contributing to minorities dealing with crimes embody pre-existing prejudice and racism, motor provider firms’ provide chains, and the vulnerability surrounding minorities who can not communicate English.
- The 653 drivers surveyed stated crimes usually tend to occur in city areas in contrast with rural areas, and that harassment in opposition to feminine truck drivers is extra prone to occur from 12 a.m. to six a.m.
- Truckers surveyed advised that stopping future harassment in opposition to truckers may very well be improved by enhancing security at present amenities, offering further parking amenities, enhancing communication inside the business, offering private security coaching to drivers and creating academic materials to extend consciousness.
- Drivers stated security additionally may very well be enhanced at present trucking amenities by offering ample lighting and security measures to present truck parking tons, fueling stations, truck stops, and docking areas of shippers and receivers. Restrooms ought to be positioned nearer to parking entrances, and there additionally ought to be a presence of security patrol and regulation enforcement, in line with the survey.
- Some drivers even advised they might really feel safer in the event that they had been permitted to hold firearms. Nonetheless, the insurance policies of many trucking firms, shippers, and receivers don’t permit truckers to hold firearms of their vans. As well as, state legal guidelines on carrying firearms fluctuate considerably, and the problem is past the purview of FMCSA’s authority.
- Feminine truck drivers had been discovered to be two to 4 instances extra prone to report being touched with out permission in contrast with nonminority males, whereas minority ladies had been as much as 9 instances extra prone to report being bodily harmed in contrast with nonminority males. Nonminority ladies are two to 6 instances extra seemingly than nonminority males to be touched with out permission.
The driving force survey confirmed that the people committing the harassment usually tend to be different truck drivers whom the victims didn’t know. Nonetheless, feminine truck drivers usually tend to expertise harassment from one other truck driver at their firm, or their trainers.
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About half of the harassments go unreported. About 42% of girls, 57% of minority males and 51% of nonminority males select to not report the harassment, the research stated. The rationale given was that drivers both didn’t suppose it will make a distinction or they consider they only should take care of it.
The research concluded that truck drivers, dispatchers, carriers, and clients want to speak to decide on a journey plan that’s environment friendly and protected. Delays and scheduling conflicts at shipper and receiver amenities can pressure truckers to park in unsafe places.
“Present private security coaching to truck drivers,” the research really useful. “Many respondents indicated that they by no means acquired any kind of coaching on private security and safety. Subsequently, truck drivers may gain advantage from private security, safety, safety, in addition to self-defense applications.”
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