Truck Accident Statistics
The trucking industry is a significant contributor to the American economy, generating $368.9 billion for moving freight across the country, with an estimated 3.5 million U.S. truck drivers in the workforce.
As a result of the vast distances they operate across and the number of trucks on the road, trucking hazards are a daily risk for drivers throughout the country. In 2020, there were 28% more fatalities from large truck crashes than in 2009.
In 2009, the number of deaths was the lowest since 1975, the same year that the U.S. Department of Transportation began collecting truck accident data. These statistics show the number of deaths and injuries associated with truck accidents nationwide:
- The number of fatal accidents involving large trucks was 9% in 2020.
- Drivers and passengers of other vehicles made up 71% of the fatalities and 68% of injuries in large truck crashes.
- Large trucks account for 80% of multi-vehicle crashes, compared with 61% for passenger cars.
California Truck Accident Trends
The California Highway Patrol recorded a decrease from 84 fatal truck crashes in 2018 to 83 in 2019, where truck drivers were at fault. Additionally, there has been a decline in truck accidents resulting in injuries from 3,098 in 2018 to 3,038 in 2019. Data still shows how hazardous trucks can be on California’s highways and roads.
- California ranked as one of the top states with the highest number of fatalities resulting from large truck crashes, with 398 deaths in 2020.
- There were 262 large trucks involved in multi-vehicle crashes in 2020, a decrease from 282 accidents with multiple cars in 2019.
- Big truck accidents in 2020 increased to 102, up from 83 in 2019.
Types of Trucks
California requires trucks to weigh at least 20,000 pounds for single-axle trucks. However, a fully-loaded truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, 20 to 30 times more than a passenger car. In California, vehicles and their loads cannot exceed 102 inches in outside width.
The trucks’ taller heights and higher ground clearances can endanger other passenger vehicles, increasing the likelihood of an accident. A truck accident can be hazardous when these vehicles collide based on the differences between passenger vehicles and commercial trucks.
Passenger Vehicles
Passenger vehicles do not transport people for hire under California law. These vehicles include sedans, vans, and pick-up trucks like a Dodge Ram or Chevy Silverado.
Passenger Sedans
- These sedans are designed to carry passengers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) vehicle classification system places passenger cars into weight classes ranging from 1,500 to 3,499 pounds.
Pick-up Truck
- According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Class 1 light-duty pick-up trucks have 4 tires and gross vehicle weight ratings of over 6,000 pounds. However, standard-sized pick-ups in Class 2 can weigh anywhere between 6,001 to 10,000 pounds.
Commercial Trucks
The state of California defines a commercial vehicle as a vehicle with the primary purpose of property transportation. Commercial trucks can include light trucks, heavy trucks, and buses.
Forklift Truck
- Forklift trucks are allowed on the highway to transport and load goods. These trucks cannot function on the road for a distance of longer than one-quarter mile. However, they are also exempt from the weight fee imposed by California’s Department of Transportation (Caltrans), unlike semi-trucks and other heavy commercial trucks.
Semi-Truck
- Semi-trucks combine a semi-trailer to carry cargo and a semi-tractor to provide power to transport freight across the country over long distances. In 2020, 53% of fatal accidents involving large trucks were single-truck tractors pulling a single semi-trailer.
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