CONTENTS SUMMARY 1 1 INTRODUCTION 3 Background, 3 Methodology and Major Sources, 4 Disclaimers, 5 2 SURVEY METHODS AND RESULTS 6 Survey Method, 6 Survey Results, 8 3 CASE STUDIES 17 Trucking Companies, 17 Bus Companies, 29 4 EVIDENCE REVIEW 33 Business, Operational, and Safety Management in Small Companies, 33 Small Carrier Violation and Crash Rates, 38 Vehicle Equipment and Maintenance, 41 Operational Planning and Risk Avoidance, 43 Driver Hiring, 45 Driver Orientation, Training, and Communications, 48 Driver Supervision, 51 Crash and Incident Investigation, 55 Carrier Performance Tracking and Benchmarking, 56 Management Development, 57 Systematic Approaches to Motor Carrier Safety Management, 59 5 CONCLUSIONS AND FURTHER RESEARCH 65 Study Survey Findings, 65 Small Carrier Safety Performance, Advantages, and Disadvantages, 66 Improving Small Carrier Safety Management, 68 Research and Development Needs, 71 REFERENCES 73 ACRONYMS 77 GLOSSARY 78 APPENDIX A SURVEY FORM TEXT 79