Fatality Facts 2024Large trucks

Overview

Most deaths in large truck crashes are passenger vehicle occupants. The main problem is the vulnerability of people traveling in smaller vehicles. Large trucks include anything with a gross vehicle weight rating over 10,000 pounds, but those on the heavier end of the spectrum can weigh 20 to 30 times as much as passenger cars. They are also taller and have 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% to 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 June 2026.

Trends

A total of 5,340 people died in large truck crashes in 2024. Seventeen percent of these deaths were truck occupants, 62% were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 19% were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists. The number of people who died in large truck crashes was 58% higher in 2024 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 84% higher than in 2009.

Deaths in crashes involving large trucks, 1975-2024

Deaths in crashes involving large trucks, 1975-2024
Year	Passenger vehicle occupants		Large truck occupants		Motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians		Total*
Year	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
1975	2,875	64	961	21	555	12	4,483	100
1976	3,124	62	1,132	23	643	13	5,008	100
1977	3,659	64	1,287	22	673	12	5,723	100
1978	4,049	64	1,395	22	817	13	6,356	100
1979	4,296	64	1,432	21	862	13	6,702	100
1980	3,729	62	1,262	21	896	15	5,971	100
1981	3,816	66	1,133	20	785	14	5,806	100
1982	3,522	67	944	18	695	13	5,229	100
1983	3,664	67	982	18	749	14	5,491	100
1984	3,739	66	1,074	19	734	13	5,640	100
1985	3,901	68	977	17	752	13	5,734	100
1986	3,821	68	926	17	745	13	5,579	100
1987	3,918	70	852	15	739	13	5,598	100
1988	4,014	71	911	16	664	12	5,679	100
1989	3,937	72	858	16	602	11	5,490	100
1990	3,863	73	705	13	630	12	5,272	100
1991	3,521	73	661	14	571	12	4,821	100
1992	3,335	75	585	13	493	11	4,462	100
1993	3,692	76	605	12	476	10	4,856	100
1994	3,836	75	670	13	570	11	5,144	100
1995	3,699	75	648	13	511	10	4,918	100
1996	3,953	77	621	12	481	9	5,142	100
1997	4,100	76	723	13	511	9	5,398	100
1998	4,066	75	742	14	513	10	5,395	100
1999	4,017	75	759	14	527	10	5,380	100
2000	3,962	75	754	14	502	10	5,282	100
2001	3,808	75	708	14	534	10	5,111	100
2002	3,711	75	689	14	478	10	4,939	100
2003	3,721	74	726	14	523	10	5,036	100
2004	3,817	73	766	15	584	11	5,235	100
2005	3,716	71	804	15	634	12	5,240	100
2006	3,572	71	805	16	589	12	5,027	100
2007	3,342	69	805	17	614	13	4,822	100
2008	2,877	68	682	16	634	15	4,245	100
2009	2,354	70	499	15	491	15	3,380	100
2010	2,603	71	530	14	500	14	3,686	100
2011	2,462	65	640	17	616	16	3,781	100
2012	2,576	65	697	18	618	16	3,944	100
2013	2,609	66	695	17	626	16	3,981	100
2014	2,605	67	656	17	590	15	3,908	100
2015	2,759	67	665	16	618	15	4,094	100
2016	2,993	64	815	17	795	17	4,678	100
2017	3,210	65	878	18	753	15	4,906	100
2018	3,232	65	890	18	818	16	5,006	100
2019	3,237	64	893	18	844	17	5,032	100
2020	3,157	64	822	17	896	18	4,945	100
2021	3,811	65	1,011	17	937	16	5,821	100
2022	3,725	62	1,098	18	1,065	18	5,969	100
2023	3,391	62	962	18	1,004	18	5,478	100
2024	3,293	62	920	17	1,021	19	5,340	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, 2026).

Occupant deaths in large truck crashes per 100 million truck miles traveled, 1975-2024

Occupant deaths in large truck crashes per 100 million truck miles traveled, 1975-2024
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	2,875	3.53	961	1.18
1976	86,070	3,124	3.63	1,132	1.32
1977	95,021	3,659	3.85	1,287	1.35
1978	105,739	4,049	3.83	1,395	1.32
1979	109,004	4,296	3.94	1,432	1.31
1980	108,491	3,729	3.44	1,262	1.16
1981	108,702	3,816	3.51	1,133	1.04
1982	111,423	3,522	3.16	944	0.85
1983	116,132	3,664	3.16	982	0.85
1984	121,796	3,739	3.07	1,074	0.88
1985	123,504	3,901	3.16	977	0.79
1986	126,675	3,821	3.02	926	0.73
1987	133,517	3,918	2.93	852	0.64
1988	137,985	4,014	2.91	911	0.66
1989	142,749	3,937	2.76	858	0.60
1990	146,242	3,863	2.64	705	0.48
1991	149,543	3,521	2.35	661	0.44
1992	153,384	3,335	2.17	585	0.38
1993	159,888	3,692	2.31	605	0.38
1994	170,216	3,836	2.25	670	0.39
1995	178,162	3,699	2.08	648	0.36
1996	182,971	3,953	2.16	621	0.34
1997	191,477	4,100	2.14	723	0.38
1998	196,380	4,066	2.07	742	0.38
1999	202,688	4,017	1.98	759	0.37
2000	205,520	3,962	1.93	754	0.37
2001	209,032	3,808	1.82	708	0.34
2002	214,603	3,711	1.73	689	0.32
2003	217,917	3,721	1.71	726	0.33
2004	220,792	3,817	1.73	766	0.35
2005	222,523	3,716	1.67	804	0.36
2006	222,513	3,572	1.61	805	0.36
2007	304,178	3,342	1.10	805	0.26
2008	310,680	2,877	0.93	682	0.22
2009	288,306	2,354	0.82	499	0.17
2010	286,527	2,603	0.91	530	0.18
2011	267,594	2,462	0.92	640	0.24
2012	269,207	2,576	0.96	697	0.26
2013	275,017	2,609	0.95	695	0.25
2014	279,132	2,605	0.93	656	0.24
2015	279,844	2,759	0.99	665	0.24
2016	287,895	2,993	1.04	815	0.28
2017	297,593	3,210	1.08	878	0.30
2018	304,864	3,232	1.06	890	0.29
2019	300,050	3,237	1.08	893	0.30
2020	302,141	3,157	1.04	822	0.27
2021	327,026	3,811	1.17	1,011	0.31
2022	331,272	3,725	1.12	1,098	0.33
2023	329,858	3,391	1.03	962	0.29
2024	329,600	3,293	1.00	920	0.28
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

Fourteen percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths in 2024 occurred in large truck crashes.

Motor vehicle crash deaths occurring in large truck crashes and other crashes, 2024
Crash type	Deaths	%
Large truck crashes	5,340	14
Other crashes	33,914	86
All crashes	39,254	100

Fifty-eight percent of deaths in large truck crashes in 2024 were in crashes involving tractor-trailers and 37% 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, 2024
Truck type	Deaths	%
Tractor-trailer	3,098	58
Single-unit	1,957	37
Truck type unknown	472	9
NOTE: More than one large truck may be involved in a single crash and the deaths associated with that crash.

Sixty percent of large truck occupants killed in multiple-vehicle crashes in 2024 occurred in collisions involving another large truck.

Deaths of large truck occupants in multiple-vehicle crashes by number of large trucks involved, 2024
Number of large trucks	Deaths	%
1	154	40
≥ 2	235	60
Total	389	100

Where and when large truck crashes occurred

Fifty-one percent of deaths in large truck crashes in 2024 occurred on major roads other than interstates and freeways, 30% occurred on interstates and freeways, and 18% occurred on minor roads.

Deaths in large truck crashes by road type, 2024
Road type	Deaths	%
Interstates and freeways	1,582	30
Other major roads	2,739	51
Minor roads	981	18
All road types*	5,340	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Forty-seven percent of large truck crash deaths in 2024 occurred between 6 a.m. and 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, 2024
Time of day	Large truck crashes		Other crashes		All crashes
Time of day	Deaths	%	Deaths	%	Deaths	%
Midnight - 3 a.m.	478	9	4,182	12	4,660	12
3 a.m. - 6 a.m.	518	10	2,885	9	3,403	9
6 a.m. - 9 a.m.	773	14	2,845	8	3,618	9
9 a.m. - noon	770	14	2,767	8	3,537	9
Noon - 3 p.m.	958	18	3,948	12	4,906	12
3 p.m. - 6 p.m.	806	15	5,150	15	5,956	15
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.	537	10	6,240	18	6,777	17
9 p.m. - midnight	497	9	5,634	17	6,131	16
Total*	5,340	100	33,914	100	39,254	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Nineteen percent of large truck crash deaths in 2024 occurred on Saturday and Sunday, compared with 35% of crash deaths not involving large trucks.

Deaths in large truck crashes and other crashes by day of week, 2024
Day of Week	Large truck crashes		Other crashes		All crashes
Day of Week	Deaths	%	Deaths	%	Deaths	%
Sunday	433	8	5,683	17	6,116	16
Monday	867	16	4,296	13	5,163	13
Tuesday	845	16	4,030	12	4,875	12
Wednesday	905	17	4,192	12	5,097	13
Thursday	855	16	4,343	13	5,198	13
Friday	862	16	5,163	15	6,025	15
Saturday	573	11	6,207	18	6,780	17
Total*	5,340	100	33,914	100	39,254	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Comparison of large truck and passenger vehicle crashes

Ninety-six percent of vehicle occupants killed in two-vehicle crashes involving a passenger vehicle and a large truck in 2024 were occupants of the passenger vehicles.

Occupant deaths in two-vehicle crashes involving a large truck and a passenger vehicle, 2024
Occupant type	Deaths	%
Passenger vehicle occupants	2,511	96
Large truck occupants	95	4
All occupant deaths	2,606	100

Forty-seven percent of large truck occupant deaths in 2024 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 (20%) involving rollovers.

Occupant deaths by rollover occurrence and vehicle type, 2024
Vehicle type	No rollover		Rollover		All crashes
Vehicle type	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
Large truck	490	53	430	47	920	100
SUV	4,448	67	2,200	33	6,648	100
Pickup	2,481	62	1,553	38	4,034	100
Car	9,357	80	2,412	20	11,769	100
Total*	23,595	77	7,106	23	30,701	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Fifty-eight percent of large truck occupant deaths in 2024 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, 2024
Crash type	Large truck occupants		Passenger vehicle occupants
Crash type	Number	%	Number	%
Single-vehicle	531	58	9,685	43
Multiple-vehicle	389	42	13,028	57
All crashes*	920	100	22,713	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Forty-five percent of fatally injured large truck drivers in 2024 were using seat belts, which was similar to fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers (46%). However, belt use was unknown for 18% of fatally injured large truck drivers, compared with 11% of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers.

Seat belt use among fatally injured large truck and passenger vehicle drivers, 2024
Belt use	Large truck drivers		Passenger vehicle drivers
Belt use	Number	%	Number	%
Belt used	349	45	7,877	46
Unbelted	293	38	7,539	44
Unknown	139	18	1,852	11
Total	781	100	17,268	100

Thirty-two percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed in two-vehicle crashes with a large truck in 2024 were in vehicles that collided head-on with the truck and another 26% were in vehicles that were side-struck by the truck. Twenty 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 two-vehicle crashes with large trucks, 2024
Large truck	Passenger vehicle								Total
	Front		Side		Rear		Other		Total
	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
Front	791	32	651	26	149	6	23	1	1,614	64
Side	283	11	56	2	1	<1	5	<1	345	14
Rear	493	20	14	1	5	<1	2	<1	514	20
Other	21	1	6	<1	0	0	11	<1	38	2
Total	1,588	63	727	29	155	6	41	2	2,511	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. Ten percent of fatally injured large truck drivers had BACs at or above 0.08% in 2024. That proportion is far below the 17% seen in 1982. For comparison, 31% of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers in 2024 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%, 1982-2024
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	754	128	17	19,686	10,032	51
1983	784	122	16	19,356	9,533	49
1984	884	121	14	20,314	9,375	46
1985	797	91	11	20,108	8,685	43
1986	765	67	9	21,527	9,392	44
1987	708	58	8	22,193	9,362	42
1988	763	72	9	22,899	9,574	42
1989	706	72	10	22,562	9,195	41
1990	586	56	9	21,953	8,968	41
1991	554	40	7	20,541	8,242	40
1992	512	27	5	19,596	7,436	38
1993	516	30	6	20,086	7,340	37
1994	554	36	6	20,707	7,100	34
1995	556	33	6	21,511	7,514	35
1996	541	35	6	21,692	7,358	34
1997	627	22	4	21,782	7,090	33
1998	637	31	5	21,714	6,977	32
1999	644	31	5	21,971	7,019	32
2000	655	28	4	21,893	7,164	33
2001	603	25	4	21,933	7,233	33
2002	592	40	7	22,616	7,409	33
2003	623	29	5	22,270	7,142	32
2004	639	24	4	22,027	6,976	32
2005	697	24	4	22,018	7,127	32
2006	705	31	4	21,629	7,175	33
2007	703	22	3	20,493	7,048	34
2008	580	33	6	18,207	6,263	34
2009	434	24	6	16,791	5,780	34
2010	476	32	7	15,968	5,159	32
2011	551	20	4	15,496	5,052	33
2012	590	28	5	15,842	5,188	33
2013	602	31	5	15,495	5,092	33
2014	593	27	4	15,431	4,893	32
2015	591	20	3	16,560	4,910	30
2016	711	56	8	17,513	5,109	29
2017	740	61	8	17,632	5,095	29
2018	740	56	8	17,129	4,925	29
2019	768	51	7	16,739	4,764	28
2020	718	86	12	18,146	5,494	30
2021	859	64	7	20,155	6,157	31
2022	914	65	7	19,415	5,971	31
2023	833	70	8	18,123	5,558	31
2024	781	75	10	17,268	5,387	31