A recent study finds that commercial motor vehicle driving experience is more important than age when considering potential risk.
According to a recent study from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, which highlights the continued driver shortage and the largely aging workforce, gathered its data form the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration-sponsored study Commercial Driver Safety Risk Factors, which is currently under FMCSA review. The more than 9,000 participants were asked to complete a questionnaire that included questions on the driver’s age and CDL driving experience. This information was then cross-referenced with driver safety performance metrics from Motor Carrier Management Information System, as well as carrier-recorded crash data and the Commercial Driver’s License Information System.
While some might think that age is the bigger factor in determining risk, as it does with determining insurance rates for non-CDL drivers, the study found that experience in big rigs was the dominating factor. This bears upon the industry debate over allowing drivers younger than 21 to drive interstate.
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