Understanding the prevalence of crimes against female and minority truckers in the United States could help regulators address the problem while potentially increasing the pool of qualified drivers, according to federal officials.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) plans to seek White House approval to assess the size and scope of the issue and has contracted with nonprofit research group Battelle to create and execute a study.
“FMCSA needs to explore and validate the problem of harassment- and assault-related crimes, especially against female and minority male truckers for two reasons,” the agency stated in a July 23 announcement. “First, there seems to be a perception among these sub-populations of truckers that they are more vulnerable than others. Second, there is a critical shortage of truckers, and helping these sub-populations of truckers protect themselves from crimes could draw more truckers from these sub-populations, while stemming turnover, to alleviate the shortage.”
In addition to carriers and drivers, the report may also be useful to law enforcement and operators of private truck stops in addressing the situation, according to FMCSA.
In requesting comments on the need for the study, the agency cited documentary and anecdotal evidence revealing a “serious pattern” of crimes against female and minority truckers – but that it currently does not provide materials on how they can protect themselves from being stalked, harassed, assaulted or robbed.
“Before effective solutions for preventing or reducing these crimes against female and minority truckers can be developed and implemented, FMCSA must understand the prevalence, seriousness and nature of the problem,” the agency asserted. “The frequency and number of harassment- and assault-related crimes occurring, the portion that are unreported, and reasons for underreporting are unknown.”
The private sector has already been taking steps to try and address the problem, particularly as it occurs within an organization. The Women in Trucking Association, which has been working with FMCSA in getting a study off the ground, offers an anti-harassment employment guide to carriers that address issues that arise among team drivers of mixed genders.
“We feel women have a ways to go before they feel safe” in this occupation, the association’s president, Ellen Voie told FreightWaves. “We feel we need to take the lead to make sure it’s a safe environment for female as well as male driers.” Voie had earlier told FreightWaves that there is no other industry where employees of mixed gender are in an enclosed space for long periods of time “with a bed [i.e., a sleeper berth] just inches away.”
In addition, with minority representation on the rise in the trucking industry, groups such as the National Minority Trucking Association and Black Truckers United have organized in part to support minorities who may experience higher levels of harassment- and assault-related crimes.
If the agency receives the go-ahead for the survey, a maximum of 440 males and 440 females will be contacted through a combination of an online survey and in-person interviews. FMCSA will provide a $25 incentive to eligible respondents. To be eligible, respondents must report that they are a female or a minority male who has driven a truck professionally in the past two years.
Comments on the proposed study to be submitted to the White House Office of Management and Budget must be received by FMCSA by September 23, 2019.
Shirley Bowden
I’ve been driving 7 years, in the first two years I had one robbery, one stalker, all my fault. Here’s why… I always trusted everyone being from southern state but quickly learn how to keep guarded, not smiling or making eye contact while being at truck stop, fueling, etc. there is predatory behavior out there. So after changing my own behavior things are good, it’s a good career you just really have to be aware of your surroundings at all times. P.s. I was in fuel lane when robbed and pulled out of my truck by guy that followed me from paying in store back to my truck. Cameras didn’t matter. Be careful!
Giovanni Utzelli
I ha e been out here 5 years and never had a problem. Male drivers have always been respectful
Aaron
This sounds like a solution in search of a problem. What they are “really” saying is that it should be illegal to be a white male, and it probably will be soon enough.
Tim
Surprised faggots were not included.
Karen M Petranovich
I have been a truck driver for over 38 years yes female. I have never been paid less than a man has I have always been treated equally. But there’s getting to be more and more women out here that want to play the victim card and that’s going to ruin it for reasonable women like me
Jason Wells
THE SHORTAGE THAT IS BEING CREATED ON PURPOSE BY KEEPING THE FREIGHT RATES LOW AS POSSIBLE IS TO ELIMINATE THE SMALL COMPANIES AS WELL AS THE OWNER OPERATORS. THE MEGA TRUCKING COMPANIES HAVE COMSPIRED WITH THEIR CONTRACT CUSTOMERS TO KEEP THEIR RATES UP WHILE KEEPING ALL OTHERS ON THE LOW END OF THE PAY SPECTRUM FORCING SMALL COMPANIES & OWNER OPERATORS TO CLOSE SHOP. IN ELIMINATING YOUR COMPETITORS YOU ALSO CREATE THE FAKE SHORTAGE THEY SO DESPERATELY WANT AND TO SOUND THE CRY FOR THE AUTNOTAMOUS TRUCKS THUS ELIMINATING MILLIONS OF JOBS. CLAIMING SAFTEY WHILE POCKETING BILLIONS.
Kitty Moon
Here’s a news headline for y’all.
If these companies are so worried about keeping meat in the seats, why is the idea of a living wage and being treated with respect such a novel idea? If trucking companies were smart, they’d go back to the old way of treating their drivers. Then, you’d have them lined up out the door to come work for you. But, after driving for 2 years myself, having to be away from my family for months at a time for pay that, sometimes, works out to less than minimum wage per hour is BS. Especially when you can work for a year or 2 and get with a local company that often pays better hourly AND lets you be home every night. Not to mention, we all watch the news and are pretty aware of the fact that this is a job that will, more than likely, be lost to automation sometime in the future. If they want HUMANS doing this job and doing it well, while having to deal with all the rules, regs and other BS you deal with on the road, they better pull some of those billions out of their pockets and start giving it to the people that actually earn it for them. But, since we all know that profit over people is literally the corporate mantra these days, I guess the trucking industry is going to keep suffering until AI finally puts the last nail in its coffin…
ChasnPavment
Coulda been said better Kitty!
ChasnPavment
Couldnt been said better Kitty!