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.
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* | ||||
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 | ||
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.
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 | ||
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 | |||
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 | |||
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 | |||
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 | ||
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 | ||
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 | ||
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 | |||||||
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 |