Behind every mile of cargo shipped on our highways lies a staggering and growing human cost, as seen in the 5,887 fatal crashes involving large trucks in 2022 that claimed 7,380 lives and devastated countless more.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, large trucks were involved in 5,887 fatal crashes, accounting for 7,380 total fatalities including truck occupants, other vehicle occupants, and non-motorists.
- Truck occupants accounted for 928 fatalities in large truck crashes in 2022, representing 12.6% of total fatalities.
- Passenger vehicle occupants suffered 5,837 fatalities in crashes with large trucks in 2022, making up 79.1% of total fatalities.
- In 2022, there were 149,163 large trucks involved in police-reported crashes.
- Large trucks accounted for 9.8% of all police-reported crashes in 2022.
- The crash rate for large trucks was 1.50 crashes per million miles in 2022.
- In 2022, large truck injury crashes resulted in 132,000 injuries.
- Truck occupants sustained 22,000 injuries in large truck crashes in 2022.
- Passenger vehicle occupants had 95,000 injuries from large truck crashes in 2022.
- Driver error was cited in 55% of large truck crashes in 2022.
- Following too closely caused 29.4% of large truck crashes in 2022.
- Failure to yield right-of-way led to 15.7% of large truck crashes.
- Economic cost of large truck crashes estimated at $83 billion annually in 2020.
- Average cost per large truck fatal crash was $4.2 million in 2022.
- Property damage from large truck crashes averaged $30,000 per incident in 2022.
Large trucks cause thousands of preventable fatalities and billions in economic damage annually.
Causes
- Driver error was cited in 55% of large truck crashes in 2022.
- Following too closely caused 29.4% of large truck crashes in 2022.
- Failure to yield right-of-way led to 15.7% of large truck crashes.
- Improper lane change accounted for 12.3% of large truck crashes in 2022.
- Speeding was a factor in 22% of fatal large truck crashes in 2022.
- Distracted driving contributed to 10% of large truck crashes.
- Fatigue was involved in 13% of large truck fatal crashes in 2022.
- Alcohol impairment in 3.1% of large truck drivers in fatal crashes 2022.
- Illegal drugs detected in 5.2% of large truck drivers fatally injured in 2022.
- Mechanical failure caused 2.5% of large truck crashes in 2022.
- Brake issues were primary in 29% of large truck single-vehicle crashes.
- Tire failure led to 12% of large truck run-off-road crashes.
- Cargo securement problems in 5% of large truck crashes.
- Weather conditions (rain, snow) factor in 8% of large truck crashes.
- Poor visibility contributed to 15% of nighttime large truck crashes.
- 55% of large truck fatal crashes attributed to other vehicle's maneuver.
- Large truck driver at fault in 30% of two-vehicle fatal crashes.
- Intersection-related crashes made up 25% of large truck incidents.
- Overweight trucks involved in 7% higher crash risk.
- Hours-of-service violations linked to 15% of fatigue-related crashes.
- Cell phone use in 8% of large truck crashes per naturalistic studies.
- Underride crashes due to guardrail issues in 40% of rear impacts.
- Jackknifing occurred in 11% of large truck crashes on wet roads.
- In 2022, roadside swipes caused 18% of large truck crashes.
- Vision obstruction by truck design in 10% of side-swipe crashes.
Causes Interpretation
Even with all the modern regulations and advanced technology, it seems the most critical and frequently failing component in a large truck is still, quite often, the human behind the wheel.
Crash Incidence
- In 2022, there were 149,163 large trucks involved in police-reported crashes.
- Large trucks accounted for 9.8% of all police-reported crashes in 2022.
- The crash rate for large trucks was 1.50 crashes per million miles in 2022.
- From 2018 to 2022, large truck crash involvement rose by 16.8%.
- Single-vehicle large truck crashes totaled 42,662 in 2022.
- Angular large truck crashes numbered 48,287 in 2022.
- Rear-end large truck crashes were 30,214 in 2022.
- Head-on large truck crashes totaled 4,896 in 2022.
- In 2022, 72.8% of large truck crashes occurred during daylight hours.
- Interstate roads hosted 29.8% of large truck crashes in 2022.
- California saw 15,214 large truck crashes in 2022.
- Texas reported 14,567 large truck crashes in 2022.
- Florida had 9,876 large truck crashes in 2022.
- In 2021, large trucks were in 144,000 police-reported crashes.
- Large trucks represented 4.5% of all registered vehicles but 9% of fatal crashes in 2021.
- The number of large truck crashes increased 5% from 2020 to 2021.
- In urban areas, large truck crash rate was 2.1 per million miles in 2022.
- Rural large truck crash rate was 1.2 per million miles in 2022.
- Dry road conditions prevailed in 82% of large truck crashes in 2022.
- Straight roads saw 91% of large truck crashes in 2022.
- 2022 saw 38,451 large trucks in injury crashes.
- Large truck crash rate per 100 million VMT was 163.5 in 2022.
- In 2022, 110,714 large trucks were in non-fatal crashes only.
- Large trucks in 2020 were involved in 130,000 crashes.
- In 2019, 141,432 large truck crashes reported.
- Bus crashes totaled 12,000 in 2022.
Crash Incidence Interpretation
The data paints a clear and concerning picture: while a vast, moving fortress may be statistically safer per mile traveled, its sheer mass and miles driven translate into an escalating number of collisions—often preventable and overwhelmingly on straight, dry roads in broad daylight.
Economic Impacts
- Economic cost of large truck crashes estimated at $83 billion annually in 2020.
- Average cost per large truck fatal crash was $4.2 million in 2022.
- Property damage from large truck crashes averaged $30,000 per incident in 2022.
- Medical costs for truck crash injuries totaled $12 billion yearly.
- Lost productivity from truck crash deaths: $40 billion annually.
- Insurance premiums for trucking rose 20% due to crash claims in 2022.
- Cargo loss in truck crashes costs $5 billion per year.
- Downtime for truck repairs after crashes: average 2 weeks, costing $10,000.
- Legal settlements for large truck crashes average $1.5 million per injury case.
- Highway repairs from truck crashes cost $2 billion annually.
- In 2021, total societal cost of large truck crashes was $97 billion.
- Fuel inefficiency post-crash repair adds $500 million yearly costs.
- Worker compensation for injured drivers: $3 billion per year.
- Supply chain delays from truck crashes cost $1 billion daily.
- California truck crash economic impact: $10 billion in 2022.
- Texas large truck crashes cost $8.5 billion annually.
- Florida truck accident costs exceed $4 billion yearly.
- Underride crash prevention tech could save $4 billion in costs.
- Fatigue-related crashes add 25% higher economic burden per incident.
- Distracted driving crashes cost trucking industry $2.5 billion yearly.
- Rollover crash cleanup costs average $50,000 per event.
- Environmental cleanup from hazmat truck crashes: $1 billion/year.
- Training programs to reduce crashes save $6 per $1 invested.
- Tech like collision avoidance systems reduce costs by 30%.
- Large truck crashes represent 10% of total traffic crash economic costs.
Economic Impacts Interpretation
The truly sobering math of truck crashes reveals that, beyond the staggering billions in annual costs, every preventable collision quietly invoices society for the price of a human tragedy, a disrupted supply chain, and a mountain of avoidable waste.
Fatalities
- In 2022, large trucks were involved in 5,887 fatal crashes, accounting for 7,380 total fatalities including truck occupants, other vehicle occupants, and non-motorists.
- Truck occupants accounted for 928 fatalities in large truck crashes in 2022, representing 12.6% of total fatalities.
- Passenger vehicle occupants suffered 5,837 fatalities in crashes with large trucks in 2022, making up 79.1% of total fatalities.
- Non-motorists (pedestrians and cyclists) had 168 fatalities in large truck crashes in 2022.
- The fatality rate for large trucks was 1.51 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in 2022.
- From 2018 to 2022, large truck fatal crash involvement increased by 29.3%.
- In 2021, there were 5,000 large truck fatal crashes resulting in 6,250 fatalities.
- Truck drivers comprised 17% of all traffic fatalities in 2020.
- Between 1975 and 2021, fatalities in crashes involving large trucks increased by 31%.
- In 2020, 4,842 people died in crashes involving large trucks.
- Large trucks were involved in 8% of all fatal crashes in 2021.
- In 2019, 4,952 fatalities occurred in large truck crashes.
- Truck-tractor/semitrailers accounted for 68% of large truck fatal crashes in 2022.
- Single-vehicle large truck fatal crashes numbered 1,103 in 2022.
- Rollover fatal crashes in large trucks totaled 1,047 in 2022.
- In 2022, 72.2% of large truck fatal crashes occurred during daytime.
- Interstate highways saw 27.4% of large truck fatal crashes in 2022.
- California recorded 747 large truck fatalities in 2022.
- Texas had 675 large truck fatalities in 2022.
- Florida reported 462 large truck fatalities in 2022.
- In 2022, 19.3% of large truck driver fatalities involved alcohol impairment.
- 1,013 large truck drivers were fatally injured in 2022.
- Males represented 97.2% of large truck driver fatalities in 2022.
- Age 25-34 group had the highest number of large truck driver fatalities at 264 in 2022.
- In 2021, large trucks accounted for 12% of all highway fatalities.
- From 2000 to 2020, large truck fatalities per 100 million miles traveled decreased by 42%.
- In 2018, 4,636 fatalities in large truck crashes.
- Bus fatal crashes killed 287 people in 2022.
- Large trucks in fatal crashes with motorcycles caused 419 deaths in 2022.
- Passenger cars in fatal crashes with large trucks resulted in 4,213 deaths in 2022.
Fatalities Interpretation
Despite a 42% improvement in fatality rates per mile since 2000, the relentless 29% surge in fatal truck-involved crashes from 2018 to 2022—where passenger vehicle occupants tragically bear the brunt at nearly 80% of deaths—reveals a highway safety battle where progress is being dangerously outpaced by volume and vulnerability.
Injuries
- In 2022, large truck injury crashes resulted in 132,000 injuries.
- Truck occupants sustained 22,000 injuries in large truck crashes in 2022.
- Passenger vehicle occupants had 95,000 injuries from large truck crashes in 2022.
- Non-motorists injured in large truck crashes numbered 2,800 in 2022.
- Serious injuries in large truck crashes totaled 18,500 in 2022.
- Minor injuries from large truck crashes were 113,500 in 2022.
- Large truck drivers suffered 14,200 injuries in 2022.
- From 2018-2022, large truck injury crashes increased by 12.4%.
- Injury rate for large trucks was 0.29 injuries per million miles in 2022.
- In 2021, 120,000 injuries from large truck crashes.
- Large trucks caused 4,000 serious injuries annually on average from 2017-2021.
- 75% of injuries in large truck crashes are to occupants of other vehicles.
- In 2020, over 100,000 injuries in truck crashes.
- California reported 18,000 truck-related injuries in 2022.
- Texas had 16,500 truck injuries in 2022.
- Florida saw 11,200 large truck injuries in 2022.
- Males accounted for 78% of large truck crash injuries in 2022.
- Age 25-34 had 28% of truck driver injuries in 2022.
- Head-on crashes caused 15% of all large truck injuries in 2022.
- Rollover crashes led to 12% of truck occupant injuries in 2022.
- Nighttime large truck crashes resulted in 25% higher injury severity.
- Wet roads contributed to 10% of injury crashes for large trucks in 2022.
- In 2019, 124,000 injuries from large truck crashes.
- Large truck crashes caused 5,000 incapacitating injuries in 2022.
- Non-incapacitating injuries totaled 92,000 in large truck crashes 2022.
Injuries Interpretation
The numbers tell a sobering tale: while the cab might be a fortress, the arithmetic is unforgiving, showing that three-quarters of the human cost in truck crashes is borne by everyone else on the road.
Sources & References
- Reference 1FMCSAfmcsa.dot.govVisit source
- Reference 2CRASHSTATScrashstats.nhtsa.dot.govVisit source
- Reference 3IIHSiihs.orgVisit source
- Reference 4CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 5NHTSAnhtsa.govVisit source
- Reference 6TRUCKINGtrucking.orgVisit source
- Reference 7ATABatab.orgVisit source
- Reference 8DISTRACTIONdistraction.govVisit source
- Reference 9FHWAfhwa.dot.govVisit source
- Reference 10DOTdot.ca.govVisit source
- Reference 11TXDOTtxdot.govVisit source
- Reference 12FDOTfdot.govVisit source
- Reference 13PHMSAphmsa.dot.govVisit source