William McDonald

Overview

Mr. McDonald specializes in freight-relevant studies and technology applications within the transportation arena.  Before joining NuStats, he served as an associate with the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), where he coordinated multiple studies within the trucking sector in conjunction with partners in government, academia, and private enterprise.  He has presented several diverse research reports at recent TRB meetings. 

Integral to the success of the projects he managed at ATRI was a robust knowledge of freight operations and the development of productive relationships with state and Federal transportation agency staff.  Specific study topics included analysis of the impacts of speed-limiting devices as used within the trucking industry and analysis of the impacts of driver-training regimens on new entrant truck-driver safety outcomes.  Both studies addressed the influence of technology dissemination on specific issues within the freight sector of interest to transportation agencies.

Project Experience (Selected)

• Survey Consultant:  Truck Toll Avoidance, Project 19, for the National Cooperative Freight Research Program / 2010

• Manager:  Best Practices for Conducting, Reporting, and Using Customer Surveys related to Highway Maintenance Operations, Task 206, for the National Cooperative Highway Research Program / 2009

• Manager:  Research and Operations / EthniFacts / 2008–2010

Papers and Presentations (Selected)

• McDonald. “Using Travel-Time Maps to Inform Policy and Transform Information into a Valued Resource” at TRB workshop Toward Better Freight Transportation Data: A Research Road Map.

• McDonald. "Survey of Motor Carriers on Issues Surrounding the Use of Speed-Limiting Devices on Large Commercial Vehicles" at Transportation Research Board 87th Annual Meeting, 2008.

• McDonald. "Measuring the Impact of Fuel Tax Exemptions on the Highway Trust Fund" at Transportation Research Board 87th Annual Meeting, 2008.

• McDonald. "Safety Impacts of Speed Limiter Device Installations on Commercial Trucks and Buses" in CTBSSP Synthesis of Safety Practice No. 16, 2008.

• McDonald. "Fuel Saving/Emissions Reducing Technologies and Incentives: Use and Preferences among Diesel Truck Owners in the Baltimore Region" at Transportation Research Board 87th Annual Meeting, 2008.

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Survey Methodology & Sample Design / Data Collection /
Statistical Analysis / Inter-organizational cooperation /
Next-generation Research Design

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
With NuStats: 2
With Other Organizations: 4
 
EDUCATION
M.A. / 2010 / Sociology / Portland State  University / Portland, Oregon
B.A. / 2004 / Sociology and Philosophy / University of North Carolina / Wilmington, North Carolina

206 Wild Basin Road Building A, Suite 300 Austin, TX 78746
www.ptvnustats.com       512-279-4123     wmcdonald@nustats.com

William McDonald profile ( PDF )