The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released foundational new research that statistically corroborates that motor carriers active in state and national membership associations are safer than both former association members and carriers that have never been association members.
It has always been anecdotally assumed that association membership supports safety through a variety of association services and resources, but the necessary industry safety data and methodology had never been assessed. This new empirical research processed public safety data from the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) through a series of statistical tools to confirm the relationship between association membership and safety performance.
More specifically, the research compared motor carrier MCMIS crash and violation data for trucking fleets that held a membership status of Current, Former, or Never members. Carrier status data came from a geographically representative sample of state trucking associations, as well as from the American Trucking Associations.
The Welch’s Two-Sample T-Test results confirm that among the three carrier groups, Current members had fewer overall crashes and violations than Former members, who also had fewer crashes and violations than Never members. Almost all results were significant at the 95 percent or 99 percent confidence levels. Due to the rarity of fatal truck crashes among all carriers, this specific crash type was not statistically significant for either state or national membership.
“All safety stakeholders in the trucking industry are looking for strategies and solutions for improving large-truck safety,” noted Dr. Brenda Lantz, Associate Director of the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute. “This new ATRI research confirms that association membership is another important and proven safety tool for trucking companies.”
The ATRI association safety research also provides guidance on how the findings might be applicable to commercial transportation insurers, enforcement agencies, and academic researchers.
A copy of the full report is available by clicking here:
https://www.mdtrucking.org/files/ATRI_SafeMembersFlyer_MD.pdf
ATRI is the trucking industry’s 501(c)(3) not-for-profit research organization. It is engaged in critical research relating to freight transportation’s essential role in maintaining a safe, secure, and efficient transportation system.
Have you prepared your terminal facility for the upcoming Labor Day weekend?
It is not uncommon for thieves to target truck terminals over the holidays as they know it is a good opportunity as no one is there. Make sure that you take extra precaution to secure the trucks and items of value at your terminal.
If your units do not have anti-siphon devices or locking caps, instruct the drivers not to fill the units at the end of
the day. Make sure that all security alarms are in working order. Walk the perimeter of the lot to make sure that security fencing is in good condition. Move units and all other material such as pallets, tires, etc. far enough away from the fence so they cannot be used to climb on to get over the fence. Consider blocking the entrance and exits to the lot so units cannot be stolen.
Throughout the three-day weekend assign management personnel to check the terminal randomly. Using a little prevention and common sense can deter a thief from striking your facility.
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is September 13-19, 2026
Nearly every aspect of daily life is made possible because a truck driver who delivered the goods and resources people need.
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is an important time for America to pay respect and thank all the professional truck drivers for their hard work and commitment in undertaking one of our economy's most demanding and
important jobs. These 3.5 million professional men and women not only deliver our goods safely, securely, and on time, they also keep our highways safe.
Americans and Canadians have taken extraordinary steps to show their appreciation for the important work that professional truck drivers have done. From children passing out lunches, to "I Heart Truck" signs across the highways, the public has taken notice of the essential role truck drivers play in their lives. As we reflect on the past three years, I often wonder where we would be today if the truck drivers had refused to drive the trucks at the onset of the Covid pandemic that were delivering our personal protective equipment (PPE), food, medical supplies and the list goes on and on!
This week in September is a small way to show appreciation to the 3.5 million professional men and women who not only deliver our goods safely, securely, and on time, but also keep our highways safe. Start planning now to do something special for your drivers during this week in September that we set aside to recognize them.
