Electronic Onboard Recorder Adoption in the Trucking Industry: Issues and Opportunities

Discussions surrounding a possible Electronic On-Board Recorder (EOBR) mandate have been increasing at the same time that time-on-task monitoring technologies have matured and the Hours of Service regulations are being revised. Although certain safety advocacy groups have petitioned for a EOBR mandates since their initial use in 1985, there is still a shortage of carrier-oriented research on the factors and impediments associated with EOBR usage. This study identifies the primary barriers to expanded utilization of EOBRs and appropriate methods for mitigating those motor carrier concerns. The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) undertook the research by cataloging and analyzing FMCSA docket responses, and conducting a series of surveys and interviews with vendors and motor carrier EOBR users and non-users. These analyses provide insight into the different perceptions and expectations that exist among the various sectors and stakeholders. For instance there are considerable differences in perceived versus real system costs as well as “reasonable” unit costs by users and non-users. The actual experiences of motor carriers that use EOBRs also show that driver retention has not been negatively impacted by adoption. These two issues demonstrate the lack of familiarity and accurate information within the motor carrier community. Clarification and/or promulgation of the purpose of EOBRs, system costs, and actual impacts on driver retention may relieve many concerns. However, there are other issues that will need to be addressed before EOBRs receive greater acceptance, namely the lack of clear standards and research demonstrating the relationship between EOBRs, hours of service and safety.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Shackelford, Sandra
  • Murray, Dan
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 86th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2007-1-21 to 2007-1-25
• Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: CD-ROM
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: 15p
• Monograph Title: TRB 86th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers CD-ROM

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Data recorders; Event data recorders; Hours of labor; Truck crashes; Truck driving; Truck tractors; Truck traffic; Trucking; Trucking safety; Trucks
• Uncontrolled Terms: Onboard crash recorders; Onboard vehicle recorders
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Highways; Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I80: Accident Studies; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01046305
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 07-2161
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Apr 24 2007 7:17AM