Developing a theoretical framework for research into driver control practices in the trucking industry

Abstract

Previous research into management control of truck driver activities, while highly valuable, has failed to provide a comprehensive framework of driver control theory. This article addresses this issue by presenting a data-driven framework of driver control based on grounded theory research methods that explore the experiences of logistics professionals. This research extends current theory from the salesperson control literature to the motor carrier industry. The findings suggest that formal and informal control methods are used in various combinations in the industry, that these control types are comprised of many forms of management activities, that no single control method is completely effective in isolation, and that a number of conditions affect what methods are used and how firms apply them.