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B-1 APPENDIX B FLEET MANAGER SURVEY This appendix has not been edited by TRB. FLEET MANAGER SURVEY Safety Belt Use by Commercial Drivers This survey, which takes about 15 minutes to complete, focuses on commercial (large truck & bus) driver use of safety belts. Thanks for your participation and support! Part 1: General Questions 1. Do you wear safety belts at work and in your private vehicle? Circle oae: 1a. At work: never rarely about half the time usually always 1b. In your private vehicle: never rarely about half the time usually always 2. Please estimate the following percentages (to the nearest 10%) to the best of your ability: 2a. What percent of all U.S. commercial drivers wear safety belts in their trucks and buses? Answer: _____% [answer to nearest 10%]. 2c. What is the overall percentage of safety belt use among your fleetâs drivers on the job? Answer: _____%. 2d. Do federal regulations require CMV drivers to wear safety belts on the job? Circle one: yes not sure no. 3. Below is a list of possible reasons for not wearing safety belts in trucks and buses. Of your drivers who do not wear safety belts or donât always wear them, what reasons do they give? Circle up to three (3) choices: a. Too much trouble & effort b. Just forget c. Habit d. Belt does not fit well e. Uncomfortable for other reasons f. Restricts movement in vehicle (e.g., canât see mirrors well) g. Infringement on personal freedom h. Worried about being trapped in vehicle (e.g., in a fire, or submerged in water) i. They donât believe that belts increase safety j. Just donât like them. k. Part-time users; e.g., use them only during bad weather or on the highest speed roads. l. Frequently getting in and out of cab makes use inconvenient. N/A. All our drivers always wear safety belts. 4. Consider the drivers in your fleet who do not wear safety belts regularly. Compared to other drivers, do these driver tend to engage more often in unsafe driving practices such as speeding, tailgating, and violations of regulations and company rules? Circle one: Yes Not sure No. Part 2: Fleet Methods to Promote Use Instructions for below: Circle YES for each approach your company follows to promote use of safety belts. If you circle YES, then rate your perception of its level of effectiveness in promoting belt use by circling the appropriate number. If âYes,â please rate effectiveness. Highly Not Highly Ineffective Ineffective Sure/Neutral Effective Effective 5. Post signs in office/terminal Yes No 0 1 2 3 4 and/or driver room. 6. Post signs in vehicles Yes No 0 1 2 3 4 7. Ask candidates during selection Yes No 0 1 2 3 4 interviews or in questionnaires 8. Discuss during safety meetings Yes No 0 1 2 3 4 9. Written company policy requiring use Yes No 0 1 2 3 4 10. Printed handouts (e.g., brochures) Yes No 0 1 2 3 4 11. Media training aids (e.g., videos, slides) Yes No 0 1 2 3 4 12. Observe driver belt use in vehicles Yes No 0 1 2 3 4 (e.g., when drivers are at office or terminal) 13. Punishment/reprimands for non-use Yes No 0 1 2 3 4 14. Rewards/recognition for observed use Yes No 0 1 2 3 4 15. Post statistics on fleet use (e.g., % use) Yes No 0 1 2 3 4 16. Testimonials by experienced drivers Yes No 0 1 2 3 4 who avoided injury by using belts. 17. Consistent emphasis of belt use for all Yes No 0 1 2 3 4 employees, including supervision. 18. Change all safety belts to safety Yes No 0 1 2 3 4 orange or other bright color. 19. Encourage employees to report drivers Yes No 0 1 2 3 4 not wearing safety belts. 20. Policy included in Driver Handbook. Yes No 0 1 2 3 4
If âYes,â please rate effectiveness. Highly Not Highly Ineffective Ineffective Sure/Neutral Effective Effective 21. Driver use of safety belt included as Yes No 0 1 2 3 4 part of accident investigation process. 22. Coffee mugs, key rings, etc., with Yes No 0 1 2 3 4 safety belt messages. 23. Other method or practice? (specify) ______________________________________________________________________ Part 3: Government/Industry Programs to Promote Use Instructions for below: Please rate the general effectiveness of the government/industry methods or approaches listed below that might be used to promote belt use. Highly Not Highly Ineffective Ineffective Sure/Neutral Effective Effective 24. TV public service announcements 0 1 2 3 4 25. Radio public service announcements 0 1 2 3 4 26. Magazine/newspaper ads (e.g., in trucker publications) 0 1 2 3 4 27. Testimonials by celebrities (e.g., NASCAR drivers) 0 1 2 3 4 on TV, radio, or in publications 28. Showing test crashes with crash test dummies, 0 1 2 3 4 with and without safety belts. 29. Providing instructional materials to fleets (e.g., slides) 0 1 2 3 4 for use in safety meetings with drivers. 30. Active and well-publicized government website 0 1 2 3 4 promoting safety belt use. 31. Other suggested methods? (specify): ______________________________________________________________________ Part 4: Comments 32. Any comments on commercial driver safety belt use or ways to promote it? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Part 5: Information about You and Your Fleet 33. The approximate number of years you have been a safety manager (for carrier motor operations)? ___________ 34. Your approximate total years experience in commercial vehicle operations? _____________ 35. The number of power units currently in your organizationsâ fleet? ____________________________ 36. How would you characterize your fleetâs primary operation? (Circle or underline the operation type that best characterizes your fleet.) a. For hire: long haul/truckload b. For hire: bulk carrier c. For hire: long-haul/less-than-truckload (LTL) d. For hire: local/short haul (most trips less than 100 miles from home base) e. Private carrier: long haul or regional/truckload f. Private carrier: bulk carrier g. Private carrier: local/short haul (most trips less than 100 miles from home base) h. Private carrier: long-haul or regional/less-than-truckload (LTL) i. Passenger carrier: long haul/motor coach j. Passenger carrier: local/transit k. Other: ____________________________ Please mail your survey form in the enclosed self-addressed envelope to: Dr. Ron Knipling, VA Tech, 7054 Haycock Road, Falls Church, VA 22043. Fax: 703-538-8450. E-mail: rknipling@vtti.vt.edu. Should you wish to provide your contact information (as noted on the cover letter), you will be sent a FREE copy of the project final report to be published in Spring 2005, as well as Adobe (pdf) copies of two completed reports relating to carrier safety management. Thank you again for your participation in this study! B-2
