Logo, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Analysis Division

Large Truck Crash Overview 2011

Cover Photo: Large truck with blue cab on highway.

Publication No. FMCSA-RRA-13-002
October 2013


The mission of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is to save lives by reducing crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving commercial vehicles on our Nation’s highways. In 2011, there were:


Figure 1. Fatalities in Crashes Involving Large Trucks
Bar Chart: Fatalities in crashes involving large trucks, 2001 through 2011. 
Data for large trucks: 
2001=5,111, 
2002=4,939, 
2003=5,036, 
2004=5,235, 
2005=5,240, 
2006=5,027, 
2007=4,822, 
2008=4,245, 
2009=3,380, 
2010=3,686, 
2011=3,757.

Another 88,000 people were injured in crashes involving large trucks. Seventeen percent of those killed, and 26% of those injured, were occupants of large trucks.

Trends

  • Trucks Involved in Fatal Crashes. From 2001 through 2011, the number of large trucks involved in fatal crashes dropped from 4,823 to 3,608—down by 25%. From 2007 through 2011, the number of large trucks in fatal crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled by large trucks declined from 1.52 to 1.35—down 11%. The corresponding rate for passenger vehicles fell from 1.66 to 1.29—a decline of 22% (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Vehicles Involved in Fatal Crashes per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled by Vehicle Type
Bar Chart: Large trucks and passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, 2007 through 2011. 
Data for large trucks: 
2007=1.52, 
2008=1.32, 
2009=1.11,
2010=1.22,
2011=1.35. 
Data for passenger vehicles: 
2007=1.66,  
2008=1.51,  
2009=1.38,
2010=1.33, 
2011=1.29.

  • Trucks Involved in Injury Crashes. From 2007 through 2011, the number of large trucks involved in nonfatal injury crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled by large trucks declined by 6%, while the rate for passenger vehicles dropped by 8% (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Vehicles Involved in Injury Crashes per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled by Vehicle Type
Bar Chart: Large trucks and passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, 2007 through 2011. 
Data for large trucks: 
2007=24.9, 
2008=21.3, 
2009=18.5,
2010=20.3,
2011=23.4. 
Data for passenger vehicles: 
2007=106.7,  
2008=103.4,  
2009=97.7,
2010=99.4
2011=98.1.

Drivers

  • Of the drivers of large trucks in fatal crashes, 2.5% had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.01 grams per deciliter (g/dl) or greater. Any measurable BAC for a large truck driver is an FMCSA out-of-service violation.
  • Eighty-three percent of the drivers of large trucks involved in fatal crashes were reported by police as wearing their safety belts, compared with 65% of passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes.
  • In fatal crashes involving large trucks, driver-related factors were recorded for 34% of the large truck drivers.
  • The top five driver-related factors for large trucks in fatal crashes were, in descending order, speeding-related, distraction/inattention, impairment (fatigue, alcohol, illness, etc.), failure to keep in proper lane, and vision obscured.

Vehicles

  • In 2011, large trucks accounted for 9% of all vehicle miles traveled and 4% of all registered vehicles in the United States. In motor vehicle crashes, large trucks represented:
    • 8% of vehicles in fatal crashes
    • 2% of vehicles in injury crashes
    • 3% of vehicles in property-damage-only crashes.

  • Large truck tractors pulling semi-trailers accounted for 61% of the large trucks involved in fatal crashes and 47% of the large trucks involved in nonfatal crashes.
  • Doubles (truck tractors pulling a semi-trailer and a full trailer) accounted for 3% of large trucks involved in fatal and nonfatal crashes. Triples (truck tractors pulling three trailers) accounted for 0.1% of all large trucks involved in fatal and nonfatal crashes.
  • Four percent of large trucks involved in fatal crashes and 2% of large trucks involved in nonfatal crashes were carrying hazardous materials (HM). HM was released from the cargo compartment in 35% of the HM fatal crashes and 10% of the HM nonfatal crashes.
  • Four percent of large trucks in fatal crashes were coded with vehicle-related crash factors. Brakes and tires accounted for more than 50% of the factors coded.

Crashes

  • Adverse weather conditions were reported for 12% of the fatal and nonfatal crashes involving large trucks. Rain was the most common adverse weather condition.
  • In 72% of fatal crashes involving large trucks and 85% of injury crashes involving large trucks, the first harmful event (the first event during a crash that caused injury or property damage) was a collision with another motor vehicle. Passenger vehicles were involved in 88% of these fatal crashes and 96% of these injury crashes.
  • For two-vehicle fatal crashes in 2011 involving a large truck and a passenger vehicle:

    • Of the 364 fatal head-on crashes, the large truck crossed the center line in 11% and the passenger vehicle crossed the center line in 89% of the crashes.
    • Of the 307 fatal rear-end crashes, the large truck hit the passenger vehicle in the rear in 26% and the passenger vehicle hit the large truck in the rear in 74% of the crashes.

  • Rollover was the first harmful event for 5% of the fatal crashes and 2% of the nonfatal crashes involving large trucks.
  • Of the 530 fatal crashes that took place in work zones—areas of construction, maintenance, or utility activity—144 (27%) involved at least one large truck. A total of 174 large trucks were involved in fatal work zone crashes.

Definitions

Large Trucks: Trucks over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR).

Passenger Vehicles: Passenger cars and light trucks—vans, sport utility vehicles, and pickup trucks—with 10,000 pounds GVWR or less.

Data Sources

Fatal Crash Data: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

Nonfatal Crash Data: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, General Estimates System (GES); and FMCSA, Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) crash file, as of November 16, 2012.

Vehicle Miles Traveled and Registered Vehicles: Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics 2011.


For more information, contact the Analysis Division at (202) 366-4869, or visit our Web sites at www.fmcsa.dot.gov and ai.volpe.dot.gov.