The IIHS-HLDI Strategic Plan, 2025-29
Focus Area 2
Accelerating commercial vehicle safety
Although IIHS-HLDI is best known for our influence in the passenger vehicle market, commercial vehicle safety has long been part of our portfolio. Previous IIHS research has covered truck safety issues such as hours of service, alcohol impairment, braking systems and crash avoidance technology. In 2011, we released our first crash tests of underride guards on semitrailers. In 2017, we introduced the IIHS Toughguard award for trailers that can prevent underride in three different crash tests. We intend to expand our commercial vehicle research and leverage our experience in passenger vehicle ratings to influence the purchasing decisions of fleet managers and the actions of commercial vehicle manufacturers.
Yellow shading on the progress bar for each goal indicates a step has been completed.
Strategy 1
Investigate and promote crash avoidance and passive protective features on commercial motor vehicles.
Goal 2.1.1
Expand on Toughguard program’s success by adding a side underride test.
Deliver
Maintain and expand
Goal 2.1.2
Explore expansion of Toughguard to other types of trucks beyond semitrailers.
Initiate
Deliver
Goal 2.1.3
Test and rate crash avoidance systems on light delivery vans.
Deliver
Maintain and expand
Goal 2.1.4
Research crash avoidance on various classes of medium- and heavy-duty trucks and explore possible ratings.
Initiate
Deliver
Goal 2.1.5
Develop new audiences for commercial vehicle ratings and research, including by cultivating partnerships with associations and safety coalitions of fleet owners.
Initiate
Deliver
Maintain and expand
Goal 2.1.6
Explore feasibility and utility of new IIHS awards for truck/trailer manufacturers and/or transportation companies.
Initiate
Deliver
Strategy 2
Contribute research to improve commercial vehicle fleet operations and practices.
Goal 2.2.1
Demonstrate and evaluate countermeasures through research partnerships with fleets and transportation companies.
Initiate
Deliver
Goal 2.2.2
Examine safety risks and benefits, as reflected in insurance claims and other metrics, associated with transportation companies’ practices and policies.
Initiate
Deliver
Goal 2.2.3
Examine losses for vehicles insured for commercial purposes and how the presence of safety technologies affects those losses.
Deliver
Maintain and expand
Goal 2.2.4
Develop an understanding of risk factors for fatal crashes involving commercial vehicles, including where such crashes occur, traffic conditions and context, road geometry and vehicle class.
Deliver