Impact of Local/Short Haul Operations on Driver Fatigue. Task 1: Focus Group Summary and Analysis

Eleven focus groups were held in eight cities across five states. The purpose of these sessions was to gain an understanding, from the local/short haul (L/SH) drivers' perspective, of the general safety concerns related to the short-haul trucking industry and, specifically, the degree to which fatigue plays a role. Eight-type L/SH drivers participated in the focus group sessions. The major portion of each focus group involved a discussion of critical incidents that drivers had either learned about or personally experienced. The purpose of this discussion was to generate a list of causal factors that might highlight safety-critical issues in the L/SH industry. The issues of interest included general safety concerns and those specifically related to fatigue.