Trucking is the most dangerous industry in the United States. It’s one of the riskiest jobs that people can do and has a lot of fatalities and injuries on average per 100,000 miles traveled. In 2013, there were 8,081 fatalities and 116,285 injuries. It equates to about 120 injuries per million miles traveled.

Most truckers are male, and most of the fatalities are from males. The highest number of deaths is from truck drivers between 21 and 34. The causes for these involve alcohol, drugs, speeding, driving while fatigued, and failure to obey traffic lane safety rules/signs

1. Texas has the highest number of truckers fatalities per mile traveled. Nine out of 10 deaths occur on Texas roadways, which is an average of four trucks lost every day in the state. New Mexico, Nevada, and Oklahoma follow, with Utah coming in third.

Texas truck accidents statistics show that 896 people have died this year alone due to trucking accidents in the state.

2. Trucks accidents are the leading cause of death for young adults between 18 and 20, with more than 3,000 fatalities per year. So think twice before drinking with your friends when you’re a trucker!
3. The most common accident while driving is a rear-end collision. It makes up 35% of all truck accidents and is most likely to happen while the car or truck stops or travels slowly.
4. The number one cause of truck accident fatalities is SUVs. These big cars are a perfect target for large trucks because they don’t have any place to go when they can’t fit under that bridge or in that small space between the two trucks. The second most common cause of death for people involved in trucking accidents are passengers in cars who are not wearing seatbelts. Common causes of trucking accidents are due to driver errors. Drivers often misjudge the size of their vehicle and don’t know how to maneuver it in different types of situations appropriately. Distractions while driving, speeding, and fatigue are also common causes of trucking accidents.
5. The primary sources of distraction while driving are cell phone use and eating/drinking. It doesn’t matter what the driver discusses with their friends; it’s the fact that they’re distracted that poses a threat to other vehicles on the road.
6. Drivers use speed to avoid stationary objects, known as wave-out. It’s a dangerous practice that causes crashes and can be considered a form of distraction by the driver or passenger. They may also be trying to pass another vehicle. If this is the case, the driver needs to slow down, do a 360-degree turn, and go back in the direction they’re trying to go instead of continuing on their path. Failing to obey traffic lane rules/signs also contributes to trucking accidents. It’s hazardous for car trucks because they cannot see through the windshield of a semi-trailer, which can be very frustrating.
7. There were 3,400 fatal trucking accidents in 2012, up from 2,863 in 2011. The increase is due to the rise of long-haul trucking and fewer drivers on big rigs who are older; roughly 5% of truckers are 65 years old or older compared to 1% in 2006.

The statistics shed light on facts and figures and, more importantly, highlight the need for more stringent laws, updated safety measures, and a greater emphasis on long-haul drivers’ training.