Browsing by Author "Glenn, T. Laurel"

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    Alcohol and Drug Testing: Informational Guidelines for Occupational Drivers
    Glenn, T. Laurel; Camden, Matthew C.; Hickman, Jeffrey S. (National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence, 2020-09-04)
    The Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991 requires all Department of Transportation (DOT) agencies to conduct drug and alcohol testing of safety-sensitive transportation employees, which includes commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. This report surveys the research literature to outline the effects that alcohol and drugs have on CMV driving safety and provides an overview of the most common testing methods. Additionally, the report provides guidelines on maintaining a drug-free workplace in the CMV industry, covering best practices for drug and alcohol policy, employee training, employee assistance programs, drug and alcohol testing, and drug and alcohol program evaluation.
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    A Catalog of Health and Wellness Programs for Commercial Drivers
    Glenn, T. Laurel; Mabry, J. Erin; Hickman, Jeffrey S. (National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence, 2022-12-08)
    The purpose of this study was to identify, review, and document existing CMV driver H&W programs and to identify industry best practices. The study began with a thorough literature review to understand the common medical conditions found among CMV drivers and the health risks—both behavioral and environment—associated with driving a commercial vehicle, along with a review of existing risk factor intervention programs and H&W programs designed for commercial drivers. Next, the study team conducted phone interviews with fleet and industry representatives to document and detail their H&W programs and initiatives and to identify program metrics and reported outcomes. This report includes a discussion of key aspects of existing programs, program recruitment methods, health assessments and testing, health education and coaching, and follow-up and maintenance activities. Findings from this study will inform recommendations for a larger study to evaluate the effectiveness of an H&W program for motor carrier operations.
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    Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Fatigue Detection Technology Catalog and Review
    Mabry, J. Erin; Glenn, T. Laurel; Hickman, Jeffrey S. (National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence, 2019-02-21)
    According to the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, fatigue plays a role in up to 20% of fatal commercial motor vehicle (CMV) crashes. Because fatigue is difficult to self-assess, the use of fatigue detection technologies is growing in the CMV industry. The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) conducted a comprehensive literature review to identify the types of fatigue detection technologies that are commercially available and detail their respective features for application in CMV operations. The literature review discusses technologies that (i) detect fatigue using physiological sensors from the driver; (ii) use computer vision to monitor driver behavior and positioning; (iii) record and monitor driver performance metrics, and (iv) combine multiple measures in a hybrid approach to monitoring and detection. Informed by the technologies discussed in the literature review, the VTTI research team then developed an inventory of fatigue detection technologies that are currently commercially available for implementation in CMV operations. The inventory details their specific features, capabilities, limitations, applications, and efficacy (where available). Availability, cost, practicality for the industry, and stage of development for testing or implementation are also detailed for each technology. Finally, each technology is categorized, taking into consideration factors such as empirical validation, effectiveness, practicality, and availability.
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    Estimating the Prevalence of Synthetic Cannabinoid Use Among Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers: Developing a Pilot Test to Collect Data on Substance Use
    Soccolich, Susan A.; Camden, Matthew C.; Glenn, T. Laurel; Link-Owens, Christine; Hall, Anne; Hodge, Julie; Hanowski, Richard J. (National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence, 2022-08-19)
    The extent to which commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers are using synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) and the magnitude of SC-impaired driving remains unclear. This study was the first of its kind to specifically pilot test methods to collect SC use data in the CMV driver population. The objectives of this study were to (1) develop an effective method for estimating the prevalence of synthetic substances/designer drugs in CMV drivers and (2) establish preliminary prevalence data on alcohol, synthetics, illicit drugs, prescription medications, and over-the-counter drugs among CMV drivers. Data were collected from an initial focus group followed by anonymous questionnaire and drug test. Eligible participants in both study portions needed to have a valid Class A commercial driver’s license, be currently employed as a CMV driver, and read and speak English comfortably. The drug history questionnaire included data from 206 drivers. The most reported substance was tobacco, with 62 drivers reporting use in the past year (32.80%). The following substances were not reported as used within the past year by any of the participating drivers: benzodiazepines, barbiturates, heroin, ketamine, LSD, PCP, Rohypnol, and SCs. Urine samples were tested for 84 substances. The urine test data included 202 drivers. Of these samples, 35 included at least one positive result (17.33%), 165 had no positive results (81.68%), and two tests had been diluted (0.99%). There were 18 substances found within the urine samples. The total number of positive results for all drivers and substances was 46, as drivers may have had multiple substances with a positive result. Alcohol was detected in 3.96% of driver samples. THC was also found in 3.96% of driver samples. Citalopram, an SSRI, was detected in nearly 3% of driver samples. Three positive results in the urine test showed the presence of opiates oxycodone, hydrocodone, or hydromorphone above the relevant cutoff levels. No driver samples were found to have detectable levels of SCs. This may be because detecting SC use through urine tests can be difficult as SC compositions and ingredients evolve frequently. Overall, the results showed that anonymous data collection is possible and rates of positive drug use are higher than previously identified through standard driver drug testing. Although the results from the pilot test are promising, it is important to consider that driver participation was voluntary. Thus, it is possible that the sample was biased towards drivers who did not use any medications, illegal substances, or SCs.
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    Fleet-based Driver Monitoring Systems: Accelerating Commercial Motor Vehicle and Occupational Driver Acceptance of Driver-facing Cameras
    Camden, Matthew C.; Glenn, T. Laurel; Manke, Aditi; Hanowski, Richard J. (National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence, 2022-10-14)
    Driver monitoring systems (DMSs) are an in-vehicle technology with promise to improve transportation safety for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) and occupational light vehicle drivers. DMSs include various sensors and cameras placed inside and outside a vehicle to record the surrounding environment and, in some cases, what the driver is doing behind the wheel. Many newer DMSs incorporate machine vision and artificial intelligence to detect environmental and behavioral factors in real-time, which may allow drivers to receive in-cab alerts associated with inattention and other driver errors found to be significant contributors to crashes. However, previous research has found that drivers are resistant to the use of driver-facing cameras. The purpose of this project was to discuss driver-facing cameras with CMV and occupational light vehicle drivers to identify their concerns and recommendations. Researchers conducted four focus groups with up to nine drivers per focus group. A total of 24 drivers participated across the four focus groups. The focus groups concentrated on three key concerns related to driver-facing cameras: driver privacy, micromanagement, and a lack of perceived safety improvements associated with driver-facing cameras. Although drivers often expressed resistance to driver-facing cameras, they did provide 12 recommendations that they believed would significantly reduce resistance: involve drivers early in the process of DMS implementation; establish a driver advisory group; use DMS data for performance recognition; use DMS data for safety competitions; be honest about the capabilities and functionality of driver-facing cameras; follow the data use policy; use a third party to review DMS data; ensure drivers understand what behaviors flag an event; ensure drivers know when an event was detected; give drivers leeway to correct behavior before management is notified; use data to show how DMSs improve safety; and limit audio recording.
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    Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke: Evaluation of Preventative Technologies
    Glenn, T. Laurel; Glenn, Eric; Neurauter, Luke (National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence, 2021-04-06)
    In 2018 and 2019, pediatric vehicular heatstroke (PVH) was the leading cause of nontraffic child fatalities involving vehicles in the United States. Legislation is being introduced in Congress to require passenger vehicles to be equipped with rear seat reminder technologies (RSRTs), which would help to mitigate against PVH. In a previous study, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) conducted an extensive literature review to better understand the circumstances under which PVH occurs, identify the available preventive technologies, and examine what is necessary for an optimized PVH-prevention solution. The current study builds on that work by conducting a functional evaluation of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and aftermarket RSRT implementations, focusing on occupant detection methods and driver/bystander notification approaches. Using scenarios based on real-world PVH cases, this effort was a hands-on evaluation of how each RSRT implementation performed, accounting for OEM and select aftermarket RSRTs available at the time of data collection. Each implementation received ratings for reliability and effectiveness, offering opportunities to examine and discuss specific RSRT advantages and shortcomings.
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    Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke: Review of Literature and Preventative Technologies
    Glenn, Eric; Glenn, T. Laurel; Neurauter, Michael L. (National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence, 2019-10-08)
    Pediatric vehicular heatstroke (PVH) was the leading cause of nontraffic child fatalities in the United States in 2018. On average, there are 38 PVH fatalities in the U.S. each year, for a total of 905 child fatalities on record and thousands of non-fatal injuries. PVH can occur when a child gains access to a vehicle without parental knowledge or is intentionally or unintentionally left in the vehicle, and the temperature in the vehicle rises to a dangerous level from ambient heating. To safeguard against children being left behind in vehicles, legislation has been introduced in Congress to require rear seat reminder technologies (RSRTs) in passenger vehicles of less than 10,000 pounds. RSRTs provide audible and visual reminders to drivers when they leave their vehicles to check the rear seat for a child. This report reviews the literature on PVH, discusses both original equipment manufacturer and aftermarket RSRTs, and offers guidelines on how to make future RSRTs more effective and consumer friendly.
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    Pre-Employment Screening Best Practices in the Commercial Motor Vehicle Industry
    Mabry, J. Erin; Hickman, Jeffrey S.; Glenn, T. Laurel (National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence, 2020-05-22)
    This study documents innovative and successful practices for pre-employment screening in the commercial motor vehicle (CMV) industry and assesses the prevalence and effectiveness of these pre-employment screening practices in a sample of CMV operations. A 47-item Web-based survey queried participating carriers’ (i) use of various pre-employment screening practices, (ii) effectiveness of pre-employment screening practices, (iii) reasons why pre-employment screening practices are used or unused, and (iv) descriptive data on the participating carrier (fleet size, operation type, etc.). The 40 survey respondents included carriers of different sizes and operation types but should be viewed as a convenience sample and not reflective of the overall CMV population. Based on the results, effective screening techniques in order of their effectiveness ratings from survey respondents include performance or skills testing, background checks, personality testing, medical examination, physical ability testing, and social media screening.
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    Safety Benefits of a Carrier-implemented Sleep Apnea Program for Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers
    Mabry, J. Erin; Glenn, T. Laurel; Soccolich, Susan A.; Hickman, Jeffrey S.; Durmer, Jeffrey (National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence, 2022-10-11)
    The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) collaborated with a leading third-party population sleep health provider, Fusion Health, and two for-hire carriers to perform an independent analysis of the safety benefits of two, carrier-implemented obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) programs for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers (OSAFE). The research team obtained OSA diagnostic and treatment data from Fusion Health and safety and driver information from the participating carriers. The crash types assessed in the analysis included claims-only, on-road, and preventable crashes. To compare OSA-treated drivers to drivers without diagnosed OSA, a matched cohort approach was taken to include treated drivers and drivers without diagnosed OSA. Safety performance was investigated to explore crash rates before and during PAP treatment, crash rates by treatment adherence and average usage, and crash rates before and during treatment for drivers with a previous crash. The main findings from this study include the following: (1) high PAP adherence rates among OSA drivers, with more than 90% of drivers from both carriers meeting full-adherence requirements for PAP compliance; (2) support for the safety benefits of PAP treatment in CMV drivers who were OSA positive and demonstrated full adherence to treatment; (3) pronounced safety benefits for CMV drivers that experienced a crash prior to beginning PAP treatment; (4) a dose-response safety benefit of PAP use among drivers at Carrier A; and (5) for Carrier A drivers with full adherence to PAP, higher rates of claims-only and preventable crashes before and during treatment compared to similar control drivers. Given that fully compliant PAP treatment was associated with reductions in on-road and preventable crashes, carriers should focus on (1) identifying OSA drivers through effective screening programs, (2) providing PAP treatment, (3) monitoring PAP compliance, and (4) providing support to assist drivers in maintaining OSA compliance.
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    Undiagnosed Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers: Application of STOP-Bang
    Glenn, T. Laurel; Mabry, J. Erin; Soccolich, Susan A.; Hickman, Jeffrey S. (National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence, 2020-04-06)
    Although several studies have estimated the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver population, limitations such as small sample sizes and study samples that are not representative of the STOP-Bang is a subjective and objective screening tool that assesses snoring, tiredness, observed apneas, hypertension, Body Mass Index (BMI), age, neck circumference, and gender. This study investigated the potential benefit of using a modified version of the STOP-Bang questionnaire to screen for OSA in the CMV population using data from the Commercial Driver Safety Risk Factors (CDSRF) study. Using the modified version of the STOP-Bang, 10 times more drivers (897 vs. 9,382) in the CDSRF study were classified as screening high for OSA (i.e., OSA Potential). Although these drivers moved from the No OSA group to the Potential OSA group, analyses using Poisson regression models still found that the OSA Diagnosed: Treated group had a significantly lower crash rate compared to the No OSA group. The efficacy of the STOP-Bang in screening for OSA in this population should be further evaluated.