Towards a Safe, Healthy and Efficient Gig Transportation Workforce

"Towards a Safe, Healthy and Efficient Gig Transportation Workforce" is a research initiative that addresses the heightened safety and health risks faced by the gig transportation workforce, particularly in Massachusetts. The gig economy, characterized by independent contractor roles and piece-rate payments, poses unique challenges to drivers/riders, including higher anxiety, fatigue, risk-taking behaviors, and lack of federal regulation protections. This project aims to enhance the overall well-being of gig drivers/riders by focusing on three main objectives: understanding their economic, safety, and health status; developing a decision support system (DSS) prototype to aid in making informed scheduling decisions; and engaging disadvantaged communities in the design and testing of this DSS. The research involves a collaborative effort between faculty members from Civil and Environmental Engineering and the School of Public Policy, combining expertise in driver behavior analysis, operation optimization, community outreach, and socio-technical ecosystem studies. The research plan includes conducting a literature review, focus groups/interviews with gig drivers/riders, designing and testing a DSS prototype, and final reporting. The project methodology combines qualitative and quantitative research methods, including focus groups and surveys. The DSS prototype will be designed to help gig workers balance economic gains with safety and health considerations, potentially transforming how gig work is conducted and perceived. The community engagement aspect ensures that the DSS is user-friendly and effective for the target audience.

• Record URL:
  https://www.umass.edu/neutc/projects/towards-safe-healthy-and-efficient-gig-transportation-workforce

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $150000
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348301

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  University of Massachusetts, Amherst

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  130 Natural Resources Road
  Amherst, MA  United States  01003
• Performing Organizations:

  University of Massachusetts, Amherst

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  130 Natural Resources Road
  Amherst, MA  United States  01003
• Principal Investigators:

  Gao, Song

• Start Date: 20240101
• Expected Completion Date: 20241231
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program
• Subprogram: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Contractors; Decision support systems; Drivers; Economic factors; Health; Prototypes; Ridesourcing; Safety; Underserved communities; Workforce
• Geographic Terms: Massachusetts
• Subject Areas: Economics; Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01905083
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: New England University Transportation Center
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348301
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Jan 19 2024 10:38AM