OMB Memo

Generic Information Collection Request

Request: The Census Bureau plans to conduct additional research under the generic clearance for questionnaire pretesting research (OMB number 0607-0725). We will be conducting cognitive interviewing for the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey (VIUS). VIUS is the primary source of information on trucks used for personal transportation and/or freight movement in the United States. The survey will be conducted for the Bureau of Transportation Statistics by the Census Bureau in accordance with an agreement between the two agencies. Results will be used to inform decisions about investments in new roads and technology, to examine vehicle performance and fuel economy, and will be a part of the framework for the national investment and personal consumption expenditures component of the Gross Domestic Product. For more information, please see the VIUS website: https://www.census.gov/econ/overview/se0501.html

Purpose: The VIUS was originally collected every 5 years since 1963, for years ending in "2" and "7," along with the Economic Census. However, the VIUS was not been collected since 2002. Since the VIUS is the only resource available to policymakers about the physical and operational characteristics of the nation’s truck population, the survey is being updated for collection in 2022.

The purpose of the cognitive interviewing is to evaluate any changes in the methodology that may warrant modifications needed to maximize respondent participation and data quality produced by the 2022 VIUS. Paper and web-based questionnaires will be generated based on the 2002 questionnaires, with the addition of some response options as outlined in the survey. This pretest will investigate the suitability of the proposed questions. Respondents will be asked these questions and follow-up probes about how they track their data, what records are available, potential burden, and contact preferences.

Population of Interest: The survey examines a probability sample of truck registrations stratified by geography and truck type. This includes private and commercial trucks registered (or licensed) in the United States as of July 1 of the survey year. The survey excludes vehicles owned by Federal, state, or local governments; ambulances; buses; motor homes; farm tractors; unpowered trailer units; and trucks reported to have been sold, junked, or wrecked prior to July 1 of the year preceding the survey.

Timeline: Testing will be conducted from October 2019 through March 2020.

Language: Testing will be conducted in English only.

Method: We plan to conduct one hour, in person cognitive interviews with respondents from large metropolitan and rural areas based on the availability of a sufficient amount of the population of interest once recruiting begins. Interviews will be conducted by researchers from the Data Collection Methodology and Research Branch. Additional observers from VIUS collections operation staff or the Bureau of Transportation Statistics may be present at the interviews.

Sample: We plan to conduct a total of 90 cognitive interviews, in two rounds of 45 interviews each. The sample size necessary for this test was determined by several factors: standards in cognitive interviewing practice about the number of interviews that can be used to draw conclusions; the need to meet with companies that cover varying industries, of varying sizes, and the constraints of timing and resources. We plan to conduct two rounds of interviews in order to allow for revisions after the first set of interviews. The new content is proposed to be included in the 2021 VIUS Pilot and the 2022 production survey. Because the new content applies to both light trucks (form number 9501) and tractor trailers (form number 9502), we intend to interview companies with a variety of truck types and vehicle fleet sizes and individual owner-operators of trucks.

Recruitment: Participants will be recruited from the 2002 VIUS sample, as well other companies from industries that would be considered in scope for VIUS. Targeted NAICS could include 238, 484, 485, 488, 492, and 493. In order to recruit individual owner operators for the light trucks form, we may contact associations and unions associated with the aforementioned NAICS. We may also place ads on websites soliciting participation. Locations for testing will be determined by the concentration and availability of eligible respondents. Respondents will be informed that their participation is voluntary.

Protocol: Participants will first answer questions regarding their businesses. Next participants will review the draft VIUS form. Participants will be asked follow-up probes regarding how they track their data, what records are available, potential burden, and contact preferences. The interviews will be audio recorded, to facilitate summarization.

Use of Incentive: Monetary incentives for participation of $40 may be offered to independent owner-operators of tractor-trailers and light trucks, as well as private individuals who own pick-up trucks, SUVs, and mini-vans – up to 45 participants. Incentives are being offered to this subset of participants as they more likely to need to take time out of their workday, thus not earning revenue during the time they meet with researchers. The $40 incentive is to offset this potential loss of wages and/or to cover the costs of traveling and parking when applicable. Typically, we do not offer incentives to business respondents, as we usually visit them at their place of business during their workdays, thus still earning wages and not needing to travel. We do not plan to offer incentives to respondents from traditional businesses operating fleets of in-scope vehicles and trucks – that is, non-independent owner operators as we expect to visit them at their places of business.

Length of interview: We expect that each interview will last no more than 60 minutes (90 cases x 60 minutes per case = 90 hours). Additionally, to recruit respondents we expect to make up to 5 phone contacts per completed case. The recruiting calls are expected to last on average 3 minutes per call (5 attempted phone calls per completed case x 90 cases x 3 minute per case = 22.5 hours). Thus, the estimated burden for this project is 112.5 hours (90 hours for interviews + 22.5 hours for recruiting).

Enclosures: Below is a list of materials to be used in the current study:

1. Draft Protocol for the 9501 VIUS (Light Truck)

2. Draft Protocol for the 9502 VIUS (Tractor Trailer)

3. Draft Worksheet for the 9501 VIUS (Light Truck)

4. Draft Worksheet for the 9502 VIUS (Tractor Trailer)

5. Draft Classified Website Advertisement

6. Consent Form

Contact: The contact person for questions regarding data collection and statistical aspects of the design of this research is listed below:

Aryn Hernandez

Data Collection Methodology & Research Branch

Economic Statistics and Methodology Division

U.S. Census Bureau

Washington, D.C. 20233

(301) 763-7982

[email protected]

Enclosures

Cc:

Nick Orsini (ADEP) with enclosure

Carol Caldwell (ESMD) with enclosure

Diane Willimack (ESMD) with enclosure

Amy Anderson Riemer (ESMD) with enclosure

William Davies (ESMD) with enclosure

Grant Degler (ESMD) with enclosure

Jennifer Hunter Childs (ADRM) with enclosure

Jasmine Luck (ADRM) with enclosure

Danielle Norman (PCO) with enclosure

Mary Lenaiyasa (PCO) with enclosure

Kevin Deardorff (ERD) with enclosure

Scott Boggess (ERD) with enclosure