THE EFFECTS OF OPTIMISM AND WILLINGNESS TO TRUST ON WORK-RELATED ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS: AN APPLICATION TO THE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INDUSTRY

The main objective of this study was to explore the determination of commercial vehicle driver attitudes and the effect of these attitudes on driving performance, job satisfaction, and turnover. It was hypothesized that if a relationship is found, it may then be worthwhile to select applicants with the highest potential for good work habits and company loyalty. Previous research was reviewed to help define measures of trust, optimism, organizational commitment, job satisfaction, intent to turnover, and commitment to work. Productivity measures included miles driven, out-of-route percentage, late deliveries, and accidents. Optimism and trust measures were obtained over a two month time period from 584 new drivers from a national trucking company. Turnover of these drivers was measured four months later. The drivers still with the company were sent a second survey to obtain the additional job-related measures. At the same time, productivity measures for these drivers were obtained from the company. Results showed moderate support for the stated hypotheses. There is some credibility to using measures of trust and optimism in the selection process. Other measures in the study also could help to predict intent to turnover. A discussion and explanation of the results is given.

• Record URL:
  https://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/details.php?id=414
• Corporate Authors:

  Mountain-Plains Consortium

  North Dakota State University
  Fargo, ND  United States  58108
• Authors:
  • Kalnbach, L R
  • Lantz, B M
• Publication Date: 1997-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; References;
• Pagination: 32 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Behavior; Commercial vehicles; Human factors; Job satisfaction; Morale; Personnel performance; Productivity; Psychological trust; Truck drivers; Trucking; Turnover
• Uncontrolled Terms: Optimism
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Highways; Motor Carriers; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00744556
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: MPC Report No 97-75
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 18 1998 12:00AM