Civil Engineering ETDs

Publication Date

Spring 5-16-2026

Abstract

Tribal transportation programs face challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified staff, prompting reliance on external consultants for key responsibilities. This study explores how workforce constraints and organizational structures influence tribal outsourcing decisions. Survey data from 57 tribes informed a logistic regression model examining how geographic isolation, population size, training access, and the presence of a transportation department affect preferences for internal work, actual task completion, and instances where tribes intended to perform tasks in-house but outsourced instead. Findings indicate that outsourcing is driven by limited internal capacity, including staffing shortages, lack of certified personnel, and training opportunities. Geography also plays a role, tribes farther from cities are more likely to outsource data collection, while those near urban areas outsource engineering tasks. Larger tribes and those with dedicated transportation departments perform work internally. Overall, results underscore the importance of targeted workforce development and expanded training to enhance long-term tribal transportation capacity.

Keywords

Staffing, Tribal, Tribes, Indigenous, Workforce, Development, Training, Transportation, Challenges, Outsource

Document Type

Thesis

Language

English

Degree Name

Civil Engineering

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Civil Engineering

First Committee Member (Chair)

Dr. Nicholas N. Ferenchak, P.E.

Second Committee Member

Dr. Carlos Rivera-Gonzalez

Third Committee Member

Dr. Jose M. Cerrato

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