Research the Links Between Drivers' Professional Skills and Their Level of Theoretical Training

For several years, the Ukrainian motor transport services market has been suffering from a shortage of personnel at all levels of the transport process, from qualified logistics managers to mechanics and drivers. This situation has an indirect impact on transport safety, as the professional qualities of drivers may take asecondary role when there is a shortage of human resources. In light of this, research on assessing the level of driver preparedness is particularly relevant at this time. This article presents findings from a study investigating the relationship between professional characteristics of truck drivers and their theoretical knowledge of traffic rules. The key indicator was the ratio of driving experience to age, enabling analysis across varying professional maturity levels. The sample included 21 drivers aged 26-57. A custom four-level test was developed to assess knowledge in legal norms, practical driving, psychophysiology, and technical aspects of category “C” vehicles. The test comprised 59 questions with a total score of 100. Each level reflected increased difficulty and weight: level I (basic norms, 0.5 points per item), level II (road interaction, 1 point), level III (driver safety and reactions, 2 points), and level IV (technical content, 2.5 points). This format allowed for clear differentiation in knowledge. Results showed the highest average score at level IV (63,9%), focused on vehicle-specific knowledge. Level I averaged 54,3%, level III – 52,0%. The lowest performance was at level II (41,5%), which included practical topics like right-of-way and regulated intersections. Fifteen drivers failed to reach 50% on this level, revealing weak points in real-world rule application. Regression analysis indicated increasing correlation strength with test complexity: R² values grew from 0,27 (level I) to 0,83 (level IV). However, a separate quadratic trend revealed that drivers with very high experience-to-age ratios showed lower overall test scores. This suggests knowledge stagnation in highly experienced drivers not exposed to regular theory refreshment. The research confirms the validity of the developed test and its utility in evaluating residual theoretical competence. It also underlines the need for systematic theoretical reassessment among professional drivers, especially in applied rule areas, to enhance safety and regulatory compliance.