THE COST OF INDEPENDENCE: A SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE OF CANADIAN OWNER-OPERATORS

Nearly 50,000 or one in five (22%) Canadian truck drivers on the road in 1998 were independent truckers or "owner-operators". The purpose of the study discussed in this paper was to compare work patterns and backgrounds of owner-operators to company drivers (paid truck drivers employed by carriers). This exercise is very important not only for analysts involved in the production and the use of freight transportation data, but for carriers and human resource professionals anticipating a shortage of qualified drivers and increased demand for the services independent truckers provide. Studies have found that initiatives that take into account a driver's socio-economic realities have the potential to improve job satisfaction, the work/home environment, highway safety and carrier profitability.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/11832770
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Saskatchewan, Canada

  Saskatoon, Saskatchewan  Canada  S7N 0W0
• Authors:
  • Bess, I
• Conference:
  • Bridging the Gaps. Canadian Transportation Research Forum, Proceedings of the 35th Annual Conference
  • Location: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
  • Date: 2000-6-4 to 2000-6-7
• Publication Date: 2000

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 13-27
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Saskatchewan University, Canada
  • Publisher: University of Saskatchewan, Canada
  • ISSN: 1183-2770

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Freight transportation; Human factors; Human resources management; Job satisfaction; Owner operators; Socioeconomic factors; Truck drivers; Trucking
• Geographic Terms: Canada
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Economics; Freight Transportation; Highways; Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00799117
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 6 2000 12:00AM