Fracking-related Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Crash Risk

United States Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration2021PDFTech ReportFlynn, DanielGillham, OliviaMeltzer, Neil R.John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.). Safety Management Systems Technical CenterJohn A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.). Safety Measurement and Analysis DivisionUnited States. Department of Transportation. Federal Motor Carrier Safety AdministrationUnited States. Department of Transportation. Federal Motor Carrier Safety AdministrationUnited StatesCommercial vehiclesEnergy resourcesHydraulic fracturingMining and extractive industriesOil explorationRest periodsTruck crashesTruck trafficOil fieldsTransportationenergy resource extraction and transportFMCSA-RRR-18-011Michel, NicoleThe combination of two energy extraction technologies, hydraulic fracturing (\u201cfracking\u201d) and horizontal drilling, has transformed the U.S. energy system by providing a means of accessing natural gas and oil in tight shale formations. The consequent fracking boom has transformed the U.S. economy, especially in less developed geographic areas where tight shale formations are prevalent. Review of the literature and geospatial analysis of CMV crash trends over time show an increase in CMV-involved crashes associated with fracking activity. This increase is not principally due to less safe carrier behavior, but rather to increased total volume of CMV traffic associated with fracking activity. This effect is most pronounced in areas where energy extraction had been declining and in less-developed areas with transportation infrastructure not designed to handle heavier CMV and other traffic. It is not possible to determine whether fracking-associated carriers require further regulation without more data.119