The FMCSA will conduct a study to gather information on the harassment and assaults against minority and female truck drivers.
In an Information Collection Request, the agency is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget to conduct the study.
In its request, published by the Federal Register, the agency reports that it has "accumulated evidence, both documentary and anecdotal, for a serious pattern of harassment and assault related crimes against female and minority male truckers."
The agency would interview a maximum of 440 female truckers and 440 male minority truckers through a combination of in-person interviews and an online survey. According to Commercial Carrier Journal, to be eligible to participate, drivers must report that they are a female or a minority male who has driven a truck professionally in the past two years. Respondents will receive $25 if they complete the in-person interview or online survey.
The survey will reportedly ask if the respondents have experienced race or gender-related harassment or crimes on the job. If yes, the survey will ask follow-up questions on when and where the incidents occurred, any information that is known about the perpetrator and whether or not the driver reported the incidents.
FMCSA doesn't currently provide training on how to protect themselves from being stalked, harassed, assaulted or robbed. The agency is aiming to develop materials that is needed to protect drivers by gaining a better understanding of the prevalence, seriousness and nature of the problem of harassment and assaults against truckers. Currently, the number and frequency of harassment and assault crimes are unknown as there are many that are unreported.
