A new nationwide poll indicates Americans look favorably on how truckers drive – especially when compared to car drivers – and see trucking as essential to driving the economy.
Commissioned by the American Trucking Associations, the poll was conducted by Public Opinion Strategies, which surveyed 800 registered voters between August 30 and September on their attitudes about politics, trucking and infrastructure, Heavy Duty Trucking reports.
According to the poll:
- The majority of respondents, 57%, said trucking’s safety record was “excellent” or “good”
- 91% believe car drivers are more likely to engage in risky behavior on the highways than truck drivers– and 70% believe car drivers are more likely to be at fault when a car and truck collide
- 81% believe truckers are safer drivers
- 34% of respondents said trucking’s safety record had improved over the past 20 years
- A majority, 63%, believe trucks move most of the nation’s goods– marking a three-point increase from 2014
- 61% of respondents said they have a favorable view of the trucking industry, the highest among transportation modes
- When asked to offer their own thoughts on trucking, respondents called drivers hard working, said the industry provided thousands of jobs and described trucking a dependable and efficient
The poll also looked at the specific issue of highway speeds and use of speed limiters and found that:
- 69% oppose reducing highway speeds to improve safety and reduce pollution
- 63% oppose the installation of speed-limiting devices on passenger vehicles
- More than half – 56% – of respondents said they favored mandating speed limiters for large trucks.
The results of the poll were released on Oct. 21 at the ATA Board of Directors meeting held during the trucking lobby’s annual Management Conference & Expo in Philadelphia.