This is a new information collection
which is a research study with the purpose to gather information to
understand the prevalence, seriousness, and nature of the problem
of harassment and assaults against truckers in order to find,
develop, and implement effective solutions to reducing harassment
and assaults against female and minority truckers. Currently, FMCSA
does not provide materials or training to truckers, including
minority male and female truckers, on the problem of how to protect
themselves from being stalked, harassed, assaulted, or robbed.
Currently, there is insufficient data. The frequency of assaults
occurring, the portion that are unreported, and reasons for
underreporting are unknown. FMCSA needs to address the problem of
preventing crimes, especially against female and minority men
truckers for two reasons. First, there seems to be a perception
among these subpopulations of truckers that they are more
vulnerable than others. Second, there is a critical shortage of
truckers, and helping these subpopulations of truckers to protect
themselves from crimes would draw more truckers into these
subpopulations and stem turnover to alleviate the shortage of
commercial drivers in the motor carrier industry. The information
will be reported to FMCSA so the Agency can decide on further
options for evaluation and action. By understanding the nature and
prevalence of harassment and assaults against truckers, FMCSA will
be able to formulate and promote programs to address the problem.
One potential area of focus could be updating the agency’s CDL
training curriculum. The report will be published on the Agency’s
web site so that the general public will be aware of the findings.
It may be useful to law enforcement personnel, motor carriers,
operators of private truck stops, and others in their efforts to
address the situation. The survey is voluntary one-time reporting
which will be limited to professional female and minority male
truck drivers selected based on a convenience sampling method. The
survey will ask whether the drivers have experienced race- or
gender-related harassment or assaults on the job. The survey will
attempt to reach 400 female drivers and 400 minority male drivers
who have experienced on-the-job harassment or assault. If the
driver has had such an experience, the survey will ask follow-up
questions on where and when the incidents occurred, any information
the respondent knows about the perpetrator, and whether the
respondent reported the incident. Respondents will take the survey
online. No personal identification information will be asked about
the respondent or perpetrators.
The survey questions on
Crime Prevention for Truckers, which were previously approved by
OMB, have been slightly modified to reflect some of the strategic
changes the project team wanted to implement. Originally, the
survey was planned to be an in-person data collection, but the
project team switched to an online data collection because of the
pandemic. Within hours of posting the survey online, it reached its
maximum number of responses. This occurred before FMCSA was able to
reach out to all desired women’s trucking associations to encourage
participation by their members, thus undermining the purpose of the
survey. No rewards were paid by the agency. This resulted in
additional changes to some of the skip patterns in the survey to
make coding them on the online survey platform (SurveyMonkey)
possible. All of the changes fall either under De Minimis Changes
or Non-Substantive Changes. The changes do not significantly
increase the time burden on the respondents.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Form Form 2 Eligible Respondents Who Report Harrassment or Assault
FMC-R-211123-001__CLEAN_Emergency PR revision OMB action memo crime prevention survey 12.1.21 signed by Tom Keane.pdf
FMC-R-211123-001_CLEAN FRN Emergency PRA revision crime prevention survey 12.1.21.docx
Eligible Respondents Who Report Harrassment or Assault