Most deaths in large truck crashes are passenger vehicle occupants. The main problem is the vulnerability of people traveling in smaller vehicles. Trucks often weigh 20-30 times as much as passenger cars and are taller with greater ground clearance, which can result in smaller vehicles underriding trucks in crashes.
Truck braking capability can be a factor in truck crashes. Loaded tractor-trailers require 20%-40% more distance than cars to stop, and the discrepancy is greater on wet and slippery roads or with poorly maintained brakes. Truck driver fatigue is also a known crash risk. Drivers of large trucks are allowed by federal hours-of-service regulations to drive up to 11 hours at a stretch. Surveys indicate that many drivers violate the regulations and work longer than permitted (McCartt et al., 2008).
A total of 4,354 people died in large truck crashes in 2023. Sixteen percent of these deaths were truck occupants, 65% were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 17% were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists. The number of people who died in large truck crashes was 38% higher in 2023 than in 2009, when it was the lowest it has been since the collection of fatal crash data began in 1975. The number of truck occupants who died was 58% higher than in 2009.
Deaths in crashes involving large trucks, 1975-2023
Deaths in crashes involving large trucks, 1975-2023
Year
Passenger vehicle occupants
Large truck occupants
Motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians
Total*
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
1975
2,757
64
916
21
528
12
4,305
100
1976
3,071
63
1,100
22
622
13
4,893
100
1977
3,631
65
1,229
22
653
12
5,614
100
1978
3,954
64
1,315
21
776
13
6,160
100
1979
4,226
65
1,372
21
830
13
6,539
100
1980
3,623
63
1,183
21
844
15
5,740
100
1981
3,752
66
1,082
19
772
14
5,680
100
1982
3,448
67
917
18
679
13
5,125
100
1983
3,615
67
960
18
732
14
5,404
100
1984
3,713
67
1,040
19
712
13
5,550
100
1985
3,825
68
941
17
724
13
5,613
100
1986
3,752
69
892
16
718
13
5,468
100
1987
3,833
70
821
15
712
13
5,471
100
1988
3,938
71
886
16
647
12
5,566
100
1989
3,847
72
822
15
587
11
5,360
100
1990
3,790
73
684
13
615
12
5,174
100
1991
3,447
73
650
14
562
12
4,728
100
1992
3,300
75
580
13
481
11
4,422
100
1993
3,611
76
590
12
462
10
4,778
100
1994
3,764
74
658
13
555
11
5,069
100
1995
3,626
75
634
13
495
10
4,834
100
1996
3,866
77
602
12
465
9
5,048
100
1997
3,992
75
717
14
497
9
5,295
100
1998
3,981
75
739
14
495
9
5,316
100
1999
3,916
74
747
14
519
10
5,299
100
2000
3,863
75
737
14
490
9
5,173
100
2001
3,709
74
691
14
513
10
5,012
100
2002
3,616
75
675
14
464
10
4,846
100
2003
3,595
73
703
14
504
10
4,905
100
2004
3,693
72
743
15
564
11
5,099
100
2005
3,584
71
758
15
595
12
5,049
100
2006
3,466
71
774
16
564
12
4,886
100
2007
3,234
70
745
16
578
13
4,613
100
2008
2,774
69
615
15
580
14
4,017
100
2009
2,223
71
449
14
443
14
3,147
100
2010
2,453
72
475
14
445
13
3,418
100
2011
2,245
66
555
16
530
16
3,384
100
2012
2,362
67
590
17
537
15
3,529
100
2013
2,418
67
589
16
560
15
3,616
100
2014
2,486
68
585
16
535
15
3,663
100
2015
2,667
69
598
15
568
15
3,876
100
2016
2,660
66
662
16
641
16
4,023
100
2017
2,809
68
680
17
587
14
4,115
100
2018
2,810
67
677
16
624
15
4,164
100
2019
2,772
67
680
16
636
15
4,142
100
2020
2,725
67
609
15
650
16
4,038
100
2021
3,243
68
759
16
702
15
4,746
100
2022
3,124
66
820
17
759
16
4,765
100
2023
2,827
65
709
16
743
17
4,354
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Deaths in crashes involving large trucks, 1975-2023
Year
Passenger vehicle occupants
Large truck occupants
Motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians
Total*
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Among vehicle occupants killed in large truck crashes, both the rate of passenger vehicle occupant deaths per truck mile traveled and the rate of large truck occupant deaths per truck mile traveled have declined substantially since 1975. This decline stopped around 2009, and rates have varied little since then (Federal Highway Administration, 2024).
Occupant deaths in large truck crashes per 100 million truck miles traveled, 1975-2023
Occupant deaths in large truck crashes per 100 million truck miles traveled, 1975-2023
Year
Truck miles traveled in millions
Passenger vehicle occupants
Large truck occupants
Number
Rate
Number
Rate
1975
81,330
2,757
3.39
916
1.13
1976
86,070
3,071
3.57
1,100
1.28
1977
95,021
3,631
3.82
1,229
1.29
1978
105,739
3,954
3.74
1,315
1.24
1979
109,004
4,226
3.88
1,372
1.26
1980
108,491
3,623
3.34
1,183
1.09
1981
108,702
3,752
3.45
1,082
1.00
1982
111,423
3,448
3.09
917
0.82
1983
116,132
3,615
3.11
960
0.83
1984
121,796
3,713
3.05
1,040
0.85
1985
123,504
3,825
3.10
941
0.76
1986
126,675
3,752
2.96
892
0.70
1987
133,517
3,833
2.87
821
0.61
1988
137,985
3,938
2.85
886
0.64
1989
142,749
3,847
2.69
822
0.58
1990
146,242
3,790
2.59
684
0.47
1991
149,543
3,447
2.31
650
0.43
1992
153,384
3,300
2.15
580
0.38
1993
159,888
3,611
2.26
590
0.37
1994
170,216
3,764
2.21
658
0.39
1995
178,162
3,626
2.04
634
0.36
1996
182,971
3,866
2.11
602
0.33
1997
191,477
3,992
2.08
717
0.37
1998
196,380
3,981
2.03
739
0.38
1999
202,688
3,916
1.93
747
0.37
2000
205,520
3,863
1.88
737
0.36
2001
209,032
3,709
1.77
691
0.33
2002
214,603
3,616
1.68
675
0.31
2003
217,917
3,595
1.65
703
0.32
2004
220,792
3,693
1.67
743
0.34
2005
222,523
3,584
1.61
758
0.34
2006
222,513
3,466
1.56
774
0.35
2007
304,178
3,234
1.06
745
0.24
2008
310,680
2,774
0.89
615
0.20
2009
288,306
2,223
0.77
449
0.16
2010
286,527
2,453
0.86
475
0.17
2011
267,594
2,245
0.84
555
0.21
2012
269,207
2,362
0.88
590
0.22
2013
275,017
2,418
0.88
589
0.21
2014
279,132
2,486
0.89
585
0.21
2015
279,844
2,667
0.95
598
0.21
2016
287,895
2,660
0.92
662
0.23
2017
297,593
2,809
0.94
680
0.23
2018
304,864
2,810
0.92
677
0.22
2019
300,050
2,772
0.92
680
0.23
2020
302,141
2,725
0.90
609
0.20
2021
327,026
3,243
0.99
759
0.23
2022
331,272
3,124
0.94
820
0.25
2023
329,858
2,827
0.86
709
0.21
NOTE: The method of estimating truck miles traveled was changed beginning in 2007, and these results are not comparable to those of past years. For more information, visit https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm
Occupant deaths in large truck crashes per 100 million truck miles traveled, 1975-2023
Year
Truck miles traveled in millions
Passenger vehicle occupants
Large truck occupants
Number
Rate
Number
Rate
Crash types
Eleven percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths in 2023 occurred in large truck crashes.
Motor vehicle crash deaths occurring in large truck crashes and other crashes, 2023
Crash type
Deaths
%
Large truck crashes
4,354
11
Other crashes
36,547
89
All crashes
40,901
100
Motor vehicle crash deaths occurring in large truck crashes and other crashes, 2023
Crash type
Deaths
%
Seventy-three percent of deaths in large truck crashes in 2023 were in crashes involving tractor-trailers and 27% were in crashes involving single-unit trucks. Some crashes involved both a tractor-trailer and a single-unit truck.
Deaths in large truck crashes by truck type involved, 2023
Truck type
Deaths
%
Tractor-trailer
3,190
73
Single-unit
1,169
27
Truck type unknown
91
2
NOTE: More than one large truck may be involved in a single crash and the deaths associated with that crash.
Deaths in large truck crashes by truck type involved, 2023
Truck type
Deaths
%
Sixty-four percent of large truck occupants killed in multiple-vehicle crashes in 2023 occurred in collisions involving another large truck.
Deaths of large truck occupants in multiple-vehicle crashes by number of large trucks involved, 2023
Number of large trucks
Deaths
%
1
107
36
≥ 2
191
64
Total
298
100
Deaths of large truck occupants in multiple-vehicle crashes by number of large trucks involved, 2023
Number of large trucks
Deaths
%
Where and when large truck crashes occurred
Fifty-one percent of deaths in large truck crashes in 2023 occurred on major roads other than interstates and freeways, 34% occurred on interstates and freeways, and 15% occurred on minor roads.
Deaths in large truck crashes by road type, 2023
Road type
Deaths
%
Interstates and freeways
1,471
34
Other major roads
2,214
51
Minor roads
658
15
All road types*
4,354
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Deaths in large truck crashes by road type, 2023
Road type
Deaths
%
Forty-seven percent of large truck crash deaths in 2023 occurred from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., compared with 28% of crash deaths not involving large trucks.
Deaths in large truck crashes and other crashes by time of day, 2023
Time of day
Large truck crashes
Other crashes
All crashes
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Midnight - 3 a.m.
375
9
4,338
12
4,713
12
3 a.m. - 6 a.m.
519
12
3,225
9
3,744
9
6 a.m. - 9 a.m.
613
14
3,113
9
3,726
9
9 a.m. - noon
706
16
2,837
8
3,543
9
Noon - 3 p.m.
713
16
4,265
12
4,978
12
3 p.m. - 6 p.m.
658
15
5,590
15
6,248
15
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
400
9
6,842
19
7,242
18
9 p.m. - midnight
365
8
6,050
17
6,415
16
Total*
4,354
100
36,547
100
40,901
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Deaths in large truck crashes and other crashes by time of day, 2023
Time of day
Large truck crashes
Other crashes
All crashes
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Eighteen percent of large truck crash deaths in 2023 occurred on Saturday and Sunday, compared with 36% of crash deaths not involving large trucks.
Deaths in large truck crashes and other crashes by day of week, 2023
Day of Week
Large truck crashes
Other crashes
All crashes
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Sunday
320
7
6,326
17
6,646
16
Monday
682
16
4,577
13
5,259
13
Tuesday
694
16
4,217
12
4,911
12
Wednesday
733
17
4,472
12
5,205
13
Thursday
773
18
4,584
13
5,357
13
Friday
709
16
5,597
15
6,306
15
Saturday
443
10
6,774
19
7,217
18
Total*
4,354
100
36,547
100
40,901
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Deaths in large truck crashes and other crashes by day of week, 2023
Day of Week
Large truck crashes
Other crashes
All crashes
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Deaths
%
Comparison of large truck and passenger vehicle crashes
Ninety-seven percent of vehicle occupants killed in two-vehicle crashes involving a passenger vehicle and a large truck in 2023 were occupants of the passenger vehicles.
Occupant deaths in two-vehicle crashes involving a large truck and a passenger vehicle, 2023
Occupant type
Deaths
%
Passenger vehicle occupants
2,190
97
Large truck occupants
60
3
All occupant deaths
2,250
100
Occupant deaths in two-vehicle crashes involving a large truck and a passenger vehicle, 2023
Occupant type
Deaths
%
Forty-nine percent of large truck occupant deaths in 2023 occurred in crashes in which their vehicles rolled over. This was higher than the percentage of SUV occupant deaths and pickup occupant deaths that occurred in rollover crashes and much higher than the percentage of occupant deaths in cars (21%) involving rollovers.
Occupant deaths by rollover occurrence and vehicle type, 2023
Vehicle type
No rollover
Rollover
All crashes
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Large truck
360
51
349
49
709
100
SUV
4,323
66
2,266
34
6,589
100
Pickup
2,746
62
1,684
38
4,430
100
Car
10,217
79
2,640
21
12,857
100
Total*
24,607
77
7,474
23
32,081
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Occupant deaths by rollover occurrence and vehicle type, 2023
Vehicle type
No rollover
Rollover
All crashes
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Fifty-eight percent of large truck occupant deaths in 2023 occurred in single-vehicle crashes, compared with 43% of passenger vehicle occupant deaths.
Occupant deaths in large trucks and passenger vehicles by number of vehicles involved, 2023
Crash type
Large truck occupants
Passenger vehicle occupants
Number
%
Number
%
Single-vehicle
411
58
10,482
43
Multiple-vehicle
298
42
13,756
57
All crashes*
709
100
24,238
100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Occupant deaths in large trucks and passenger vehicles by number of vehicles involved, 2023
Crash type
Large truck occupants
Passenger vehicle occupants
Number
%
Number
%
Forty-nine percent of fatally injured large truck drivers in 2023 were using seat belts, which was similar to fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers (46%). However, belt use was unknown for 21% of fatally injured large truck drivers, compared with 10% of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers.
Seat belt use among fatally injured large truck and passenger vehicle drivers, 2023
Belt use
Large truck drivers
Passenger vehicle drivers
Number
%
Number
%
Belt used
314
49
8,346
46
Unbelted
186
29
8,074
44
Unknown
136
21
1,895
10
Total
636
100
18,315
100
Seat belt use among fatally injured large truck and passenger vehicle drivers, 2023
Belt use
Large truck drivers
Passenger vehicle drivers
Number
%
Number
%
Thirty-one percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed in two-vehicle crashes with a large truck in 2023 were in vehicles that collided head-on with the truck and another 23% were in vehicles that were side-struck by the truck. Twenty-two percent were killed in crashes in which the front of the passenger vehicle struck the rear of the large truck.
Passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2-vehicle crashes with a large truck, 2023
Large truck
Passenger vehicle
Total
Front
Side
Rear
Other
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Front
687
31
512
23
116
5
10
<1
1,325
61
Side
263
12
40
2
3
<1
17
1
323
15
Rear
477
22
13
1
0
0
5
<1
495
23
Other
26
1
10
<1
0
0
11
1
47
2
Total
1,453
66
575
26
119
5
43
2
2,190
100
Passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2-vehicle crashes with a large truck, 2023
Large truck
Passenger vehicle
Total
Front
Side
Rear
Other
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Large truck drivers killed in fatal crashes are much less likely than passenger vehicle drivers to have high blood alcohol concentrations (BACs). Truck drivers are subject to strict government regulations concerning drinking and driving. Five percent of fatally injured large truck drivers had BACs at or above 0.08% in 2023. That proportion is far below the 17% seen in 1982. For comparison, 31% of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers in 2023 had BACs at or above 0.08%, down from 51% in 1982.
Estimated percent and number of fatally injured large truck and passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥0.08%, 1982-2023
Year
Large truck drivers
Passenger vehicle drivers
Deaths
Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08
Deaths
Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08
Number
Number
%
Number
Number
%
1982
735
123
17
19,664
10,024
51
1983
767
115
15
19,338
9,529
49
1984
859
107
12
20,300
9,379
46
1985
775
84
11
20,058
8,674
43
1986
736
58
8
21,503
9,396
44
1987
686
53
8
22,157
9,343
42
1988
743
66
9
22,884
9,580
42
1989
681
68
10
22,554
9,200
41
1990
570
50
9
21,953
8,973
41
1991
550
39
7
20,551
8,242
40
1992
506
26
5
19,573
7,434
38
1993
504
26
5
20,036
7,328
37
1994
545
36
7
20,647
7,083
34
1995
546
31
6
21,457
7,488
35
1996
525
34
6
21,631
7,336
34
1997
616
19
3
21,711
7,069
33
1998
628
30
5
21,627
6,944
32
1999
631
28
4
21,899
6,994
32
2000
641
28
4
21,819
7,127
33
2001
591
22
4
21,862
7,205
33
2002
582
38
7
22,537
7,381
33
2003
608
23
4
22,200
7,120
32
2004
624
24
4
21,952
6,952
32
2005
663
22
3
21,953
7,104
32
2006
678
30
4
21,592
7,164
33
2007
663
17
3
20,542
7,057
34
2008
534
19
4
18,266
6,280
34
2009
399
16
4
16,834
5,791
34
2010
426
17
4
16,029
5,177
32
2011
493
9
2
15,561
5,064
33
2012
524
14
3
15,915
5,204
33
2013
529
17
3
15,577
5,108
33
2014
536
16
3
15,495
4,906
32
2015
536
16
3
16,629
4,916
30
2016
590
17
3
17,641
5,149
29
2017
604
29
5
17,751
5,116
29
2018
583
18
3
17,263
4,957
29
2019
601
15
3
16,878
4,791
28
2020
556
40
7
18,316
5,540
30
2021
672
32
5
20,349
6,191
30
2022
724
25
4
19,615
6,010
31
2023
636
32
5
18,315
5,624
31
Estimated percent and number of fatally injured large truck and passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥0.08%, 1982-2023