Fatality Facts 2021Large trucks

Overview

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 percent 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, A. T., Hellinga L. A., & Solomon, M. G. (2008). Work schedules of long-distance truck drivers before and after 2004 hours-of-service rule change. Traffic Injury Prevention, 9, 201-210.

The following facts are based on analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

Posted May 2023.

Trends

A total of 4,714 people died in large truck crashes in 2021, a 17 percent increase compared with 2020. Sixteen percent of these deaths were truck occupants, 68 percent were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 15 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists. The number of people who died in large truck crashes was 50 percent higher in 2021 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 68 percent higher than in 2009.

Deaths in crashes involving large trucks, 1975-2021

Deaths in crashes involving large trucks, 1975-2021
Year	Passenger vehicle occupants		Large truck occupants		Motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians		Total*
Year	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	3,217	68	756	16	698	15	4,714	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Ninety-seven percent of vehicle occupants killed in two-vehicle crashes involving a passenger vehicle and a large truck in 2021 were occupants of the passenger vehicles.

Occupant deaths in two-vehicle crashes involving a large truck and a passenger vehicle, 2021
Occupant type	Deaths	%
Passenger vehicle occupants	2,495	97
Large truck occupants	78	3
All occupant deaths	2,573	100

Eleven percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths in 2021 occurred in large truck crashes.

Motor vehicle crash deaths occurring in large truck crashes and other crashes, 2021
Crash type	Deaths	%
Large truck crashes	4,714	11
Other crashes	38,225	89
All crashes	42,939	100

Seventy-four percent of deaths in large truck crashes in 2021 were in crashes involving tractor-trailers and 27 percent 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, 2021
Truck type	Deaths	%
Tractor-trailer	3,509	74
Single-unit	1,274	27
Truck type unknown	34	1
NOTE: More than one large truck may be involved in a single crash and the deaths associated with that crash.

Sixty-three percent of large truck occupants killed in multiple-vehicle crashes in 2021 occurred in collisions involving another large truck.

Deaths of large truck occupants in multiple-vehicle crashes by number of large trucks involved, 2021
Number of large trucks	Deaths	%
1	118	37
≥ 2	203	63
Total	321	100

Twelve percent of all passenger vehicle occupant deaths and 22 percent of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in multiple-vehicle crashes in 2021 occurred in crashes with large trucks.

Passenger vehicle occupant deaths by crash type and large truck involvement, 2021
Crash type	Large truck crashes		Other crashes		All crashes
Crash type	Number	%	Number	%	Number
Single-vehicle	0	0	11,623	100	11,623
Multiple-vehicle	3,217	22	11,745	78	14,962
All crashes*	3,217	12	23,368	88	26,585
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

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. Federal Highway Administration. (2023). Highway statistics, 2021. U.S. Department of Transportation.

Occupant deaths in large truck crashes per 100 million truck miles traveled, 1975-2021

Occupant deaths in large truck crashes per 100 million truck miles traveled, 1975-2021
Year	Truck miles traveled in millions	Large truck occupants		Passenger vehicle occupants
Year	Truck miles traveled in millions	Number	Rate	Number	Rate
1975	81,330	916	1.13	2,757	3.39
1976	86,070	1,100	1.28	3,071	3.57
1977	95,021	1,229	1.29	3,631	3.82
1978	105,739	1,315	1.24	3,954	3.74
1979	109,004	1,372	1.26	4,226	3.88
1980	108,491	1,183	1.09	3,623	3.34
1981	108,702	1,082	1.00	3,752	3.45
1982	111,423	917	0.82	3,448	3.09
1983	116,132	960	0.83	3,615	3.11
1984	121,796	1,040	0.85	3,713	3.05
1985	123,504	941	0.76	3,825	3.10
1986	126,675	892	0.70	3,752	2.96
1987	133,517	821	0.61	3,833	2.87
1988	137,985	886	0.64	3,938	2.85
1989	142,749	822	0.58	3,847	2.69
1990	146,242	684	0.47	3,790	2.59
1991	149,543	650	0.43	3,447	2.31
1992	153,384	580	0.38	3,300	2.15
1993	159,888	590	0.37	3,611	2.26
1994	170,216	658	0.39	3,764	2.21
1995	178,162	634	0.36	3,626	2.04
1996	182,971	602	0.33	3,866	2.11
1997	191,477	717	0.37	3,992	2.08
1998	196,380	739	0.38	3,981	2.03
1999	202,688	747	0.37	3,916	1.93
2000	205,520	737	0.36	3,863	1.88
2001	209,032	691	0.33	3,709	1.77
2002	214,603	675	0.31	3,616	1.68
2003	217,917	703	0.32	3,595	1.65
2004	220,792	743	0.34	3,693	1.67
2005	222,523	758	0.34	3,584	1.61
2006	222,513	774	0.35	3,466	1.56
2007	304,178	745	0.24	3,234	1.06
2008	310,680	615	0.20	2,774	0.89
2009	288,306	449	0.16	2,223	0.77
2010	286,527	475	0.17	2,453	0.86
2011	267,594	555	0.21	2,245	0.84
2012	269,207	590	0.22	2,362	0.88
2013	275,017	589	0.21	2,418	0.88
2014	279,132	585	0.21	2,486	0.89
2015	279,844	598	0.21	2,667	0.95
2016	287,895	662	0.23	2,660	0.92
2017	297,593	680	0.23	2,809	0.94
2018	304,864	677	0.22	2,810	0.92
2019	300,050	680	0.23	2,772	0.92
2020	302,141	609	0.20	2,725	0.90
2021	327,484	756	0.23	3,217	0.98
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

Where and when large truck crashes occurred

Forty-eight percent of deaths in large truck crashes in 2021 occurred on major roads other than interstates and freeways, 36 percent occurred on interstates and freeways, and 16 percent occurred on minor roads.

Deaths in large truck crashes by road type, 2021
Road type	Deaths	%
Interstates and freeways	1,676	36
Other major roads	2,282	48
Minor roads	749	16
All road types*	4,714	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Fifty percent of large truck crash deaths in 2021 occurred from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., compared with 28 percent of crash deaths not involving large trucks.

Deaths in large truck crashes and other crashes by time of day, 2021
Time of day	Large truck crashes		Other crashes		All crashes
Time of day	Deaths	%	Deaths	%	Deaths	%
Midnight - 3 a.m.	395	8	4,680	12	5,075	12
3 a.m. - 6 a.m.	464	10	3,165	8	3,629	8
6 a.m. - 9 a.m.	753	16	3,187	8	3,940	9
9 a.m. - noon	737	16	3,057	8	3,794	9
Noon - 3 p.m.	847	18	4,436	12	5,283	12
3 p.m. - 6 p.m.	654	14	5,891	15	6,545	15
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.	462	10	7,057	18	7,519	18
9 p.m. - midnight	396	8	6,431	17	6,827	16
Total*	4,714	100	38,225	100	42,939	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Sixteen percent of large truck crash deaths in 2021 occurred on Saturday and Sunday, compared with 35 percent of crash deaths not involving large trucks.

Deaths in large truck crashes and other crashes by day of week, 2021
Day of Week	Large truck crashes		Other crashes		All crashes
Day of Week	Deaths	%	Deaths	%	Deaths	%
Sunday	339	7	6,462	17	6,801	16
Monday	763	16	4,816	13	5,579	13
Tuesday	751	16	4,468	12	5,219	12
Wednesday	853	18	4,412	12	5,265	12
Thursday	842	18	4,896	13	5,738	13
Friday	754	16	6,187	16	6,941	16
Saturday	412	9	6,984	18	7,396	17
Total*	4,714	100	38,225	100	42,939	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Comparison of large truck and passenger vehicle crashes

Fifty-two percent of large truck occupant deaths in 2021 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 percent) involving rollovers.

Occupant deaths by rollover occurrence and vehicle type, 2021
Vehicle type	No rollover		Rollover		All crashes
Vehicle type	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
Large truck	363	48	393	52	756	100
SUV	4,129	62	2,507	38	6,636	100
Pickup	2,900	60	1,955	40	4,855	100
Car	11,684	79	3,060	21	14,744	100
Total*	25,815	75	8,475	25	34,290	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Fifty-eight percent of large truck occupant deaths in 2021 occurred in single-vehicle crashes, compared with 44 percent of passenger vehicle occupant deaths.

Occupant deaths in large trucks and passenger vehicles by number of vehicles involved, 2021
Crash type	Large truck occupants		Passenger vehicle occupants
Crash type	Number	%	Number	%
Single-vehicle	435	58	11,623	44
Multiple-vehicle	321	42	14,962	56
All crashes*	756	100	26,585	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Seventeen percent of large trucks in fatal crashes in 2021 were involved in single-vehicle crashes; in contrast, 35 percent of passenger vehicles in fatal crashes were involved in single-vehicle crashes.

Large truck and passenger vehicle involvement in fatal crashes by number of vehicles involved, 2021
Crash type	Large trucks		Passenger vehicles
Crash type	Number	%	Number	%
Single vehicle	796	17	16,978	35
Two vehicles	2,783	61	22,388	47
> 2 vehicles	1,016	22	8,691	18
All crashes*	4,595	100	48,057	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Forty-nine percent of fatally injured large truck drivers in 2021 were using seat belts, which was similar to fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers (45 percent). However, belt use was unknown for 19 percent of fatally injured large truck drivers, compared with 10 percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers.

Seat belt use among fatally injured large truck and passenger vehicle drivers, 2021
Belt use	Large truck drivers		Passenger vehicle drivers
Belt use	Number	%	Number	%
Belt used	331	49	9,071	45
Unbelted	210	31	9,177	45
Unknown	128	19	2,013	10
Total	669	100	20,261	100

Thirty-one percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed in two-vehicle crashes with a large truck in 2021 were in vehicles struck head-on by the truck and another 24 percent were in vehicles that were side-struck by the truck. Twenty-three percent involved the front of the passenger vehicle striking the rear of the large truck.

Passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2-vehicle crashes with a large truck, 2021
Large truck	Passenger vehicle								Total
	Front		Side		Rear		Other		Total
	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
Front	773	31	603	24	103	4	18	1	1,497	60
Side	292	12	49	2	3	<1	5	<1	349	14
Rear	585	23	31	1	0	0	1	<1	617	25
Other	12	<1	3	<1	0	0	17	1	32	1
Total	1,662	67	686	27	106	4	41	2	2,495	100

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 percent in 2021. That proportion is far below the 17 percent seen in 1982. For comparison, 30 percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers in 2021 had BACs at or above 0.08 percent, down from 51 percent in 1982.

Estimated percent and number of fatally injured large truck and passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥0.08 percent, 1982-2021
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	669	34	5	20,261	6,115	30