The effect of the 1980 Motor Carrier Reform Act on highway safety
Abstract
With passage of the Motor Carrier Reform Act of 1980 (1980 MCA), the trucking industry was transformed from a heavily regulated industry, with limited competition among carriers, to an industry that, from many perspectives, has become very competitive. The Act eliminated virtually all barriers to entry and gave motor carriers considerably more freedom to independently set prices. As expected, the competitive environment created by the legislation has resulted, among other things, in an increased number of carriers and a reduction in the price of moving our nation's goods. A great deal of economic discussion and research has been devoted to analyzing the economic consequences of the act, including its effect upon prices, service quality, industry health, and economic efficiency. However, virtually no research has been devoted to the question of highway safety. In this thesis, a model analyzing the effects of the Motor Carrier Reform Act of 1980 upon highway safety is developed and estimated. It is found that the safety performance of trucks relative to other vehicles has improved as a result of the 1980 MCA.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
McCarthy, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Economics|Law
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