Research Reports
Report Details
Title: | Career Stage, Time Spent on the Road, and Truckload Driver Attitudes |
Authors: | James McElroy, Julie Rodriguez, Gene Griffin, Paula Morrow, and Michael Wilson |
Publication Date: | May 1993 |
Report #: | SP-113 |
TRID #: | 01705820 |
Keywords: | attitudes, job satisfaction, motor carriers, truck drivers, turnover |
Type: | Research Report – Staff Papers |
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between career stage, time spent on the road, and driver work-related attitudes. Three phenomena make the study of truck driver attitudes salient to carriers and shippers. First, turnover among truck drivers has traditionally been very high. Research has shown job-related attitudes to be central both to models of turnover and to models of employee attendance. Therefore, knowledge of driver job-related attitudes can provide companies with valuable information for predicting and controlling future absenteeism and turnover. A second impetus for the study of truck driver attitudes is the growth in demand for drivers and the anticipated shortage of traditional, white, male drivers. Finally, research on driver attitudes is important because of the driver's critical role in the success of motor carrier. Drivers are responsible for safety, on-time delivery, customer relations, equipment breakdowns, and they play a major role in determining insurance rates, all of which have bottom line consequences for motor carriers.