TRUCKING
Keep on Trucking
A new research centre at the University of Saskatchewan is
a first-of-its kind facility in Canada and could have a huge
impact on the country’s truck transportation industry
A new, cutting-edge research facility being developed
at the University of Saskatchewan could help reduce
the number of motor vehicle accidents that occur on
Canadian roadways and provide a major boost to Canada’s commercial
truck transportation sector.
The facility is being developed by researcher Alexander Crizzle,
an assistant professor in the university’s School of Public Health. He
recently received $158,000 in funding from the Canada Foundation
for Innovation, a not-for-profit organization that provides financial
support to research facilities across the country.
A significant portion of the project’s funding will be used to purchase
two state-of-the-art driving simulators (one truck, one car)
that will allow researchers to assess at-risk drivers and develop evidence
based protocols to improve their driving performance. In addition,
the facility will be tasked with investigating the effectiveness
of new vehicle technologies such as crash-avoidance software.
While it’s estimated more than 300,000 trucks carry commercial
freight across Canada each year, Crizzle says there has been
surprisingly little research done in this country on long-haul truck
drivers and the numerous factors that can impact their driving,
such as hours of service and physical health.
“This will be the only facility of its kind here in Canada. It will provide
a lot of rich data…in a neglected (area) where there hasn’t been
a lot of research done,” he said, adding much of the data currently
available is based on studies conducted in the U.S.
Crizzle expects that it will be at least early next year before the
new facility is up and running and it could take between six months
and a year before research studies begin.
Although the bulk of drivers who take part in the study will likely
be from Saskatchewan, he hopes to get participation from drivers
By Jim Timlick
The truck driving research
team; Alexander Crizzle
(white shirt) says that he
hopes their research will
help Canadian provinces
to develop appropriate
road safety legislation
and regulations
PHOTO: ALEXANDER CRIZZLE
thinkbigmagazine.ca | Quarter 4 2019 | Think BIG 33
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