Fatality Facts 2023Large 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% 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 et al., 2008).

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

Posted July 2025.

Trends

A total of 4,354 people died in large truck crashes in 2023. Sixteen percent of these deaths were truck occupants, 65% were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 17% were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists. The number of people who died in large truck crashes was 38% higher in 2023 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 58% higher than in 2009.

Deaths in crashes involving large trucks, 1975-2023

Deaths in crashes involving large trucks, 1975-2023
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	3,243	68	759	16	702	15	4,746	100
2022	3,124	66	820	17	759	16	4,765	100
2023	2,827	65	709	16	743	17	4,354	100
*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. This decline stopped around 2009, and rates have varied little since then (Federal Highway Administration, 2024).

Occupant deaths in large truck crashes per 100 million truck miles traveled, 1975-2023

Occupant deaths in large truck crashes per 100 million truck miles traveled, 1975-2023
Year	Truck miles traveled in millions	Passenger vehicle occupants		Large truck occupants
Year	Truck miles traveled in millions	Number	Rate	Number	Rate
1975	81,330	2,757	3.39	916	1.13
1976	86,070	3,071	3.57	1,100	1.28
1977	95,021	3,631	3.82	1,229	1.29
1978	105,739	3,954	3.74	1,315	1.24
1979	109,004	4,226	3.88	1,372	1.26
1980	108,491	3,623	3.34	1,183	1.09
1981	108,702	3,752	3.45	1,082	1.00
1982	111,423	3,448	3.09	917	0.82
1983	116,132	3,615	3.11	960	0.83
1984	121,796	3,713	3.05	1,040	0.85
1985	123,504	3,825	3.10	941	0.76
1986	126,675	3,752	2.96	892	0.70
1987	133,517	3,833	2.87	821	0.61
1988	137,985	3,938	2.85	886	0.64
1989	142,749	3,847	2.69	822	0.58
1990	146,242	3,790	2.59	684	0.47
1991	149,543	3,447	2.31	650	0.43
1992	153,384	3,300	2.15	580	0.38
1993	159,888	3,611	2.26	590	0.37
1994	170,216	3,764	2.21	658	0.39
1995	178,162	3,626	2.04	634	0.36
1996	182,971	3,866	2.11	602	0.33
1997	191,477	3,992	2.08	717	0.37
1998	196,380	3,981	2.03	739	0.38
1999	202,688	3,916	1.93	747	0.37
2000	205,520	3,863	1.88	737	0.36
2001	209,032	3,709	1.77	691	0.33
2002	214,603	3,616	1.68	675	0.31
2003	217,917	3,595	1.65	703	0.32
2004	220,792	3,693	1.67	743	0.34
2005	222,523	3,584	1.61	758	0.34
2006	222,513	3,466	1.56	774	0.35
2007	304,178	3,234	1.06	745	0.24
2008	310,680	2,774	0.89	615	0.20
2009	288,306	2,223	0.77	449	0.16
2010	286,527	2,453	0.86	475	0.17
2011	267,594	2,245	0.84	555	0.21
2012	269,207	2,362	0.88	590	0.22
2013	275,017	2,418	0.88	589	0.21
2014	279,132	2,486	0.89	585	0.21
2015	279,844	2,667	0.95	598	0.21
2016	287,895	2,660	0.92	662	0.23
2017	297,593	2,809	0.94	680	0.23
2018	304,864	2,810	0.92	677	0.22
2019	300,050	2,772	0.92	680	0.23
2020	302,141	2,725	0.90	609	0.20
2021	327,026	3,243	0.99	759	0.23
2022	331,272	3,124	0.94	820	0.25
2023	329,858	2,827	0.86	709	0.21
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

Crash types

Eleven percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths in 2023 occurred in large truck crashes.

Motor vehicle crash deaths occurring in large truck crashes and other crashes, 2023
Crash type	Deaths	%
Large truck crashes	4,354	11
Other crashes	36,547	89
All crashes	40,901	100

Seventy-three percent of deaths in large truck crashes in 2023 were in crashes involving tractor-trailers and 27% 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, 2023
Truck type	Deaths	%
Tractor-trailer	3,190	73
Single-unit	1,169	27
Truck type unknown	91	2
NOTE: More than one large truck may be involved in a single crash and the deaths associated with that crash.

Sixty-four percent of large truck occupants killed in multiple-vehicle crashes in 2023 occurred in collisions involving another large truck.

Deaths of large truck occupants in multiple-vehicle crashes by number of large trucks involved, 2023
Number of large trucks	Deaths	%
1	107	36
≥ 2	191	64
Total	298	100

Where and when large truck crashes occurred

Fifty-one percent of deaths in large truck crashes in 2023 occurred on major roads other than interstates and freeways, 34% occurred on interstates and freeways, and 15% occurred on minor roads.

Deaths in large truck crashes by road type, 2023
Road type	Deaths	%
Interstates and freeways	1,471	34
Other major roads	2,214	51
Minor roads	658	15
All road types*	4,354	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Forty-seven percent of large truck crash deaths in 2023 occurred from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., compared with 28% of crash deaths not involving large trucks.

Deaths in large truck crashes and other crashes by time of day, 2023
Time of day	Large truck crashes		Other crashes		All crashes
Time of day	Deaths	%	Deaths	%	Deaths	%
Midnight - 3 a.m.	375	9	4,338	12	4,713	12
3 a.m. - 6 a.m.	519	12	3,225	9	3,744	9
6 a.m. - 9 a.m.	613	14	3,113	9	3,726	9
9 a.m. - noon	706	16	2,837	8	3,543	9
Noon - 3 p.m.	713	16	4,265	12	4,978	12
3 p.m. - 6 p.m.	658	15	5,590	15	6,248	15
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.	400	9	6,842	19	7,242	18
9 p.m. - midnight	365	8	6,050	17	6,415	16
Total*	4,354	100	36,547	100	40,901	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Eighteen percent of large truck crash deaths in 2023 occurred on Saturday and Sunday, compared with 36% of crash deaths not involving large trucks.

Deaths in large truck crashes and other crashes by day of week, 2023
Day of Week	Large truck crashes		Other crashes		All crashes
Day of Week	Deaths	%	Deaths	%	Deaths	%
Sunday	320	7	6,326	17	6,646	16
Monday	682	16	4,577	13	5,259	13
Tuesday	694	16	4,217	12	4,911	12
Wednesday	733	17	4,472	12	5,205	13
Thursday	773	18	4,584	13	5,357	13
Friday	709	16	5,597	15	6,306	15
Saturday	443	10	6,774	19	7,217	18
Total*	4,354	100	36,547	100	40,901	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Comparison of large truck and passenger vehicle crashes

Ninety-seven percent of vehicle occupants killed in two-vehicle crashes involving a passenger vehicle and a large truck in 2023 were occupants of the passenger vehicles.

Occupant deaths in two-vehicle crashes involving a large truck and a passenger vehicle, 2023
Occupant type	Deaths	%
Passenger vehicle occupants	2,190	97
Large truck occupants	60	3
All occupant deaths	2,250	100

Forty-nine percent of large truck occupant deaths in 2023 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%) involving rollovers.

Occupant deaths by rollover occurrence and vehicle type, 2023
Vehicle type	No rollover		Rollover		All crashes
Vehicle type	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
Large truck	360	51	349	49	709	100
SUV	4,323	66	2,266	34	6,589	100
Pickup	2,746	62	1,684	38	4,430	100
Car	10,217	79	2,640	21	12,857	100
Total*	24,607	77	7,474	23	32,081	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Fifty-eight percent of large truck occupant deaths in 2023 occurred in single-vehicle crashes, compared with 43% of passenger vehicle occupant deaths.

Occupant deaths in large trucks and passenger vehicles by number of vehicles involved, 2023
Crash type	Large truck occupants		Passenger vehicle occupants
Crash type	Number	%	Number	%
Single-vehicle	411	58	10,482	43
Multiple-vehicle	298	42	13,756	57
All crashes*	709	100	24,238	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Forty-nine percent of fatally injured large truck drivers in 2023 were using seat belts, which was similar to fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers (46%). However, belt use was unknown for 21% of fatally injured large truck drivers, compared with 10% of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers.

Seat belt use among fatally injured large truck and passenger vehicle drivers, 2023
Belt use	Large truck drivers		Passenger vehicle drivers
Belt use	Number	%	Number	%
Belt used	314	49	8,346	46
Unbelted	186	29	8,074	44
Unknown	136	21	1,895	10
Total	636	100	18,315	100

Thirty-one percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed in two-vehicle crashes with a large truck in 2023 were in vehicles that collided head-on with the truck and another 23% were in vehicles that were side-struck by the truck. Twenty-two percent were killed in crashes in which the front of the passenger vehicle struck the rear of the large truck.

Passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2-vehicle crashes with a large truck, 2023
Large truck	Passenger vehicle								Total
	Front		Side		Rear		Other		Total
	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
Front	687	31	512	23	116	5	10	<1	1,325	61
Side	263	12	40	2	3	<1	17	1	323	15
Rear	477	22	13	1	0	0	5	<1	495	23
Other	26	1	10	<1	0	0	11	1	47	2
Total	1,453	66	575	26	119	5	43	2	2,190	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% in 2023. That proportion is far below the 17% seen in 1982. For comparison, 31% of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers in 2023 had BACs at or above 0.08%, down from 51% in 1982.

Estimated percent and number of fatally injured large truck and passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥0.08%, 1982-2023
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	672	32	5	20,349	6,191	30
2022	724	25	4	19,615	6,010	31
2023	636	32	5	18,315	5,624	31