Ohio Truck Accident Help
A Division of Ohio Truck Accident
Our team has compiled the commercial trucking companies with the highest reported accident rates to better illustrate the ongoing problem with truck vs. car accidents
At Ohio Truck Accident Help, our truck accident lawyers are committed to helping people understand their rights and options after a devastating collision with a commercial vehicle, semi-truck, or tractor-trailer. In helping victims recover compensation for losses and injuries, we’ve encountered all manner of truck drivers, trucking companies, and insurance carriers.
Our team has compiled the commercial trucking companies with the highest reported accident rates to better illustrate the ongoing problem with truck vs. car accidents and identify all possible parties at fault for a truck crash. These statistics are not meant to blame any specific company but underscore the importance of stringent safety protocols in the trucking industry.
According to the National Safety Council, 117,300 large trucks were involved in crashes in 2021, resulting in an injury. And while this represents a 12% increase since the previous year, it is easy to dismiss these stats as unlikely to affect you here in Ohio. Sadly, that is not the case.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol collects truck accident data statewide and identified 4,327 Ohio truck crashes in 2023 where the driver was at fault. Various agencies and safety groups routinely collect accident data, inspections, safety audits, and compliance reviews from commercial vehicle carriers.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the regulatory body primarily responsible for overseeing the safe operation of commercial motor vehicles. The FMCSA utilizes the Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) System and the Company Snapshot. This free service records a trucking company’s size, cargo, inspection summaries, crash data, and safety rating.
Larger trucking companies naturally tend to have higher accident numbers due to the volume of their operations. With that in mind, here are the findings for commercial trucking companies with the most accidents.
As one of the largest package delivery companies worldwide, UPS operates a significant fleet of commercial trucks. In recent years, UPS has recorded a high number of accidents, with 2,843 total crashes as of July 10, 2023. However, it is essential to remember that UPS has one of the largest fleets in the industry.
Another shipping industry giant, FedEx, is known to have a considerable number of accidents reported annually. Like UPS, FedEx’s accident rate should be considered in the context of its massive fleet and the millions of miles its trucks travel yearly. However, their vehicles have been involved in 9 fatal crashes, 115 injury-causing truck accidents, and 349 total collisions as of July 2023.
Swift trucks are common on the highway as one of North America’s largest full truckload carriers. Swift has also recorded many accidents over recent years, with 986 crashes, 32 fatalities, and 276 injury-causing truck accidents over the past 24 months.
Werner Enterprises is a sizable hazmat-certified freight shipping company based in Omaha, NE. And despite its stated focus and investment in safety technology, Werner’s 24-month accident record includes 891 collisions, 255 injuries, and 22 fatal truck crashes.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. has also been associated with many truck-related accidents, with 1900 collisions, 583 injuries, and 43 truck accident fatalities.
The FMCSA employs various metrics to calculate a trucking company’s Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) score. These metrics include accident frequency, out-of-service rates, and safety violations. CSA scores offer insights into a company’s safety performance, with all data accessible on the CSA website.
The trucking companies we mentioned above have a satisfactory CSA rating. If a carrier falls below an acceptable CSA, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) may take action to correct the carrier’s unsafe practices and ensure compliance.
First, the FMCSA may issue a warning letter detailing the areas of concern and outline the consequences of not addressing them. This may include heightened scrutiny during inspections, fines, and the possibility of being declared unfit for operation.
If the carrier does not improve its safety performance after the warning, the FMCSA may initiate an Intervention. If the carrier still fails to rectify the safety problems, the FMCSA may rate the carrier as “Unfit.” This rating is detrimental as it could lead to the carrier’s operating authority being revoked, which means they would not legally be able to continue operations.
The underlying causes of these truck accidents are multifaceted. But a prevalent and dangerous trend among numerous large trucking companies is prioritizing profit margins over safety. This often manifests in disregarding industry regulations, pressuring drivers to work beyond recommended hours, and neglecting to provide comprehensive training.
Data does not necessarily indicate that these companies are inherently unsafe. Accidents can happen for many reasons. Moreover, these companies have vast fleets that travel millions of miles yearly and invest heavily in safety measures, driver training programs, and advanced technology to minimize accidents.
Accidents still happen. When they do, the victims are often left to struggle to secure the financial relief they need to move on with their lives. Companies sometimes look at accidents as the cost of doing business.
Ohio Truck Accident Help is here so those affected by truck accidents get the justice they deserve. If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident in Ohio, please reach out. You have rights, and we are here to ensure they are upheld.
Truck accidents are not like other vehicle crashes. But Ohio Truck Accident Help is not like other law firms. We have unique insight into the trucking industry and insurance process. Contact us for a free, no-risk consultation if you or someone you love suffered severe injury or died in an accident with a commercial vehicle.
We handle truck accidents statewide, never charge upfront fees, and you owe nothing unless you recover compensation.