WASHINGTON — The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) Board of Directors says it will be looking into several issues of concern related to the trucking industry during 2024, including the impact of nuclear verdicts and cargo theft.
These are just two of the organization’s top research priorities that were identified by ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee (RAC) at its annual meeting held March 12-13 in Washington, D.C., according to a news release.
“ATRI’s RAC selected a diverse set of research priorities designed to address some of the industry’s most critical issues including workforce development, lawsuit abuse reform and transportation infrastructure,” the news release states.
The priorities are listed below.
Mining driver demographic data to identify new pathways to trucking careers
- This study will capitalize on ATRI’s extensive truck driver demographic data collected through driver surveys over several decades. The longitudinal data will be synthesized and mined to identify changing demographic trends in the driver population, allowing industry to better target driver recruitment and retention strategies. The research will also examine potential pathways into the industry from previously untapped populations including young adults aging out of the foster care system.
Impact of nuclear verdicts
- In 2020 ATRI released a landmark study examining the frequency and impact of nuclear verdicts on the trucking industry. That research documented the scale and frequency of truck crash litigation verdicts and explored the growing use of third-party litigation financing. This update will utilize more recent data to examine how verdicts have changed since the initial study, impacts on motor carrier insurance premiums, factors contributing to nuclear verdicts, as well as potential impacts from state-level lawsuit abuse reform legislation passed in recent years.
Comprehending the scope of cargo theft in the U.S.
- Cargo theft is a growing issue for motor carriers, shippers, insurers, and consumers. This research will examine existing data sources as well as work with motor carriers to better quantify the scale and frequency of this often-unreported crime. The research will also examine existing and emerging cargo theft tracing and prevention programs to identify best practices.
Calculating the cost of truck bottlenecks
- For the past several decades, ATRI has utilized its extensive database of truck GPS data to monitor and quantify traffic congestion on the nation’s highways. This research will provide a more granular analysis of the cost of congestion for specific bottleneck locations from ATRI’s top 100 truck bottlenecks list, as well as case studies quantifying the return-on-investment for locations where targeted infrastructure improvements have resulted in reduced congestion.
Federal Excise Tax (FET) cost-benefit analysis
The 12% FET on the purchase of heavy-duty trucks and trailers is considered by many to discourage investment in newer, safer equipment with cleaner engines. This analysis will examine the impact of the FET on carrier decisions to avoid new equipment investment, such as unrealized safety and emissions improvements.
Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and raised in East Texas, John Worthen returned to his home state to attend college in 1998 and decided to make his life in The Natural State. Worthen is a 20-year veteran of the journalism industry and has covered just about every topic there is. He has a passion for writing and telling stories. He has worked as a beat reporter and bureau chief for a statewide newspaper and as managing editor of a regional newspaper in Arkansas. Additionally, Worthen has been a prolific freelance journalist for two decades, and has been published in several travel magazines and on travel websites.
