The project has six academic papers that have been published or are forthcoming.
(Listed in the order accepted for publication)
“Using Behavioral Economic Field Experiments at a Large Firm: the Context and Design of the Truckers and Turnover Project”
- A rather long paper describing the industry context, the research questions, and the research design of the project. A link to a working paper version of this document is provided below.
- S. V. Burks, J. Carpenter, L. Götte, K. Monaco, K. Porter, and A. Rustichini, in The Analysis of Firms and Employees: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches, S. Bender, J. Lane, K. Shaw, F. Andersson, and T. Von Wachter (editors), NBER, University of Chicago Press (2008), 44-106.
- Abstract for this paper
- Downloadable working paper version: Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn Discussion Paper #2789
“Cognitive Skills Affect Economic Preferences, Social Awareness, and Job Attachment”
- A paper on the relationship between the cognitive skills of truckers and their economic preferences, their social perceptions and behavior, and their job success.
- S.V. Burks, J. Carpenter, L. Götte, and A. Rustichini, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, May 12, 2009; 106(19), 7745-7750.
- Abstract for this paper »
- Paper in pdf format »
- Paper at PNAS web site »
- Supporting online appendix »
“Obesity is Prospectively Associated with the Risk of Heavy Truck Crashes among Newly Recruited Commercial Drivers”
- A paper analyzing the relationship between the body mass index (BMI) of trainee truckers and their risk of a vehicle accident on the job, controlling for demographic characteristics and for operational factors that affect the exposure to risk.
- J. Anderson, S. Burks, M. Govada (UMM ’12), T. Steffen (UMM ’11), C. Thorne (UMM ’11) , S. Kales, and V. Varvarigou, in Accident Analysis and Prevention, (November, 2012).
- Abstract for this paper »
- Journal web page for this article »
- Downloadable working paper version: Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn, Discussion Paper #6408: http://ftp.iza.org/dp6408.pdf
- “Big Truckers Run Bigger Risks,” story about this paper on the news web page of the journal Science.
“Self-Selection and Variations in the Laboratory Measurement of Other-Regarding Preferences across Subject Pools: Evidence from One College Student and Two Adult Samples”
- A paper comparing the behavior of trainee truckers to that of two control groups—UMM students and Morris-area adults—in an experiment measuring the willingness to cooperate with anonymous others at a net financial cost to oneself.
- Discussion Paper No. 5389, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn, December 2010.
- J. Anderson, S. Burks, J. Carpenter, L. Götte, K. Maurer (UMM ’09), Daniele Nosenzo, Ruth Potter (UMM ’12), Kim Rocha (UMM ’11), and Aldo Rustichini, in Experimental Economics (forthcoming, 2012).
- Abstract for this paper »
- Abstract for this paper »
- Journal web page for this article: http://www.springerlink.com/content/l44671k5658314v7/
- Downloadable working paper version: Institute for the Study of Labor Discussion Paper #5389: http://ftp.iza.org/dp5389.pdf
“Which Measures of Time Preference Best Predict Outcomes? Evidence from a Large-Scale Field Experiment”
- A paper comparing four different methods of measuring the willingness to wait for a higher future payment with respect their ability to predict several outcomes for driver trainees: body mass index, smoking status, credit score, and persistence on the job.
- S. Burks, J. Carpenter, L. Götte, A. Rustichini, in the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization (forthcoming, 2012).
- Abstract for this paper »
- Downloadable working paper version: Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) Discussion Paper #5898: Paper #5898
- Journal web page for this article
“Overconfidence and Social Signalling”
- A paper about overconfidence based on two cognitive skills tests taken by 1,016 trainee truckers and estimates of their personal performance on the tests made by the truckers.
- S.V. Burks, J. Carpenter, L. Götte, and A. Rustichini, in Review of Economic Studies (forthcoming, 2013),
- Abstract for this paper »
- Downloadable working paper version: Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) Discussion Paper #4840: http://ftp.iza.org/dp4840.pdf
Working Papers
“Toward the Integration of Personality Theory and Decision Theory in the Explanation of Economic and Health Behavior”
- A paper using data on trainee truckers to examine the relationships between personality factors and economic preferences (risk and time preferences) and to then compare how both sets of characteristics do in predicting trucker outcomes such as body mass index, smoking behavior, credit score, job persistence, and vehicle accidents on the job.
- A. Rustichini, C. DeYoung, J. Anderson, and S. Burks
- Abstract for this paper »
- Downloadable version: Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) Discussion Paper #6750
Related Publications by Project Participants
“Driver Selection Tests & Measurements”
- A report summarizing current industry practices in motor transportation and reviewing the relevant academic literature with respect to the effects of driver selection on commercial vehicle safety, for a program of the Transportation Research Board.
- R. Knipling, K. Starner (UMM ’10), C. Thorne (UMM ’10), and M. Barnes (UMM ’10), Commercial Truck & Bus Safety Synthesis Program (CTBSSP) Synthesis 21, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, January, 2012
- Pdf of this report: http://www.trb.org/SafetyHumanFactors/Blurbs/166620.aspx
“Safety Management in Small Motor Carriers”
- A report summarizing current industry practices in motor transportation and reviewing the relevant academic literature with respect to commercial vehicle safety in small motor carriers, for a program of the Transportation Research Board.
- R. Knipling and K. Nelson (UMM ’13), Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program (CTBSSP) Synthesis #22, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, January, 2012.
- Pdf of this report: http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/166473.aspx
“Trucking 101: An Industry Primer”
- A report produced by the Transportation Research Board’s standing technical Committee AT060, Trucking Industry Research, designed to introduce non-specialists to the structure of the modern U.S. trucking industry.
- S. Burks, M. Belzer, Q. Kwon, S. Pratt, and S. Shackelford, Research Circular Number E-C146, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, December, 2010. URL:
- Pdf for this report: http://www.trb.org/main/blurbs/164560.aspx
