Trucking Study: Age and Driving Experience Impacts Driver Risks

As times are changing, so is the trucking industry. Not only are a large number of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers aging out of the industry, but not enough workers are stepping up to fill the gaps. A potential solution to this problem is to hire younger drivers, regardless of experience. The study, Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver Risk Basked on Age and Driving Experience, done by the National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence (NSTSCE), has evidence to back this claim up; here are some of the findings from their study:

Findings

This study sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reviewed over 9,000 drivers to assess the impact age and driving experience have when it comes to crash rates, crash involvement, and moving violations. They found that although CMV driving experience and age factor into driver risk, CMV driving experience is more essential than age when risks are considered.

The study also found that older, more inexperienced drivers had higher crash rates and odds of being involved in an accident than their younger, inexperienced counterparts.

Overall Message

The main takeaway from this study is that motor carriers should emphasize driver training and encourage more experienced drivers to partake in mentor programs to pass down their knowledge to less experienced drivers. On top of that, motor carriers should continue to rely on dash cameras to help fleet managers enhance driver safety.

Hit by an Inexperienced Driver?

Although motor carriers can do so much to help improve training for inexperienced drivers, accidents may still happen. If you or a loved one were recently injured at the hands of an inexperienced driver, we might be able to help you recover compensation.

With a successful claim, one may be able to cover out-of-pocket expenses related to the crash like medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of wages, and more. Because everyone’s accident is different, we suggest speaking with out of our truck accident attorneys so you can get a better understanding of your legal options.

When you’re ready, contact our office at (417) 887-4300 or fill out this form to request a consultation with one of our attorneys.