A trucking company’s accident rate depends on several factors. These include the number of miles it travels and the severity of the accidents. A truck accident can cause physical pain as well as crushing medical debts. For example, UPS’s trucking company in Virginia has the highest accident rate because of its size and the volume of cargo it hauls. The company’s drivers were involved in over 1,400 accidents in the past two years. Some of these accidents resulted in injuries or even death.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) keeps track of commercial trucks and their drivers. Approximately 3.5 million trucks drive on the nation’s highways, delivering 70 percent of the nation’s freight. The trucking industry is highly profitable, generating over $700 billion annually. While the average trucking company earns just a nickel on every dollar of revenue, there are certain companies with a reputation for hiring drivers with bad driving habits. Looking at the accident statistics for the trucking companies you’re considering can reveal whether or not they’re cutting corners.
According to FMCSA regulations, the largest trucking companies are not necessarily the safest. While a large percentage of large trucking companies have accidents, smaller companies have a lower rate. When comparing companies, remember that the accident frequency ratio varies depending on miles driven and the severity of the accidents.
Which State Has the Most Truck Accidents?
According to the FMCSA’s data, California and Texas are the states with the highest percentage of truck accidents. These states have high populations, so there are more drivers on the road, and that means more chances of collisions. However, the number of truck accidents in Oklahoma is much lower, due to its small population. While there are a number of factors that determine the frequency of truck accidents, there are some universal steps that can be taken to reduce the rate.
Trucking is one of the most dangerous jobs in the country, with fatalities from truck accidents exceeding one death for every 10,000 workers, according to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. Trucks can be large, incredibly heavy, and hard to maneuver. That means that drivers must be experienced, well-rested, and have the highest degree of control when operating these vehicles. Truck accidents often result from human error, and they are often caused by a truck backing up or losing control.
Trucks are a necessity for the economy of the United States, but they pose a serious threat to motorists. In 2012, truck accidents killed 3,802 people. Of those, 543 died in Texas alone. This is a significant increase from the two-hundred-nine deaths recorded in 2009. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the frequency and severity of truck accidents and make them safer for everyone on the road.
What are the Most Common Truck Accidents?
Truck accidents are often devastating, particularly when large trucks are involved. Commercial trucks typically weigh at least ten thousand pounds and can be dangerous to drive. When they make a turn, they can tip over. They also can suddenly brake, shifting the balance of the truck and causing an accident.
Rollover accidents are one of the most common types of truck accidents. If the driver loses control, the truck can slide sideways into any obstruction, including a curb, guardrail, or uneven ground. Trucks carrying unbalanced loads are also at risk. This is why the driver should be particularly careful when making turns.
The cause of a truck accident can be the driver or the company. According to the FMCSA summary of large truck and bus crash facts for 2017, almost 5,000 people were killed in truck accidents last year. Large trucks are notoriously dangerous because they often fail to adjust their driving to the weather and road conditions. In addition, many truck companies fail to enforce break periods for their drivers. These accidents may lead to severe injuries requiring multiple surgeries.
What Day of the Week Has the Most Truck Traffic?
According to Fatality Analysis Reporting System data, Thursday is the busiest day for truck accidents. This may be due to the fact that truck drivers are less rested and may be less aware of traffic conditions on this day. However, it may also be due to the fact that most businesses are closed on Thursdays.
It is advisable to avoid driving during the peak hours of the week. The day before or at night is the best time to drive to beat the rush hour. In addition, the early morning hours are best because roads are clear. If you have to drive long distances, it is recommended to load your truck the night before and leave early.
It is also important to note that trucks are more visible on certain days. Mondays and Wednesdays are considered to be lighter in terms of traffic, according to the AIS. Small trucks are often more visible on weekdays. And the evening rush hour is often busier than the early hours. But, the weekend can be extremely busy for trucks.
What is It Called When a Truck Flips Over?
A truck rollover occurs when a truck suddenly turns in a wrong direction and the trailer and cab tip over. This is dangerous because a truck has a lot of momentum and cannot make a sharp turn like a car. The vehicle’s length also affects the risk of rolling over. Longer trucks are less likely to flip over.
Another factor that can lead to a rollover is driver error. Truck drivers are required to spend long hours behind the wheel, sometimes as many as 11 hours out of 14. This long time behind the wheel can make it difficult to focus on the road. Driver distractions can result in serious mistakes and can cause a truck to overcorrect or miss a small obstruction.
Most new vehicles are subjected to dynamic rollover tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Drivers must perform the fishhook maneuver, a maneuver that simulates the way a driver might overcorrect in an emergency, at a speed of 35-50 mph.
How Many Truck Drivers are Killed Each Year?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, heavy-duty trucking is among the deadliest jobs in the country. In 2016, truck drivers accounted for one out of every seven workplace fatalities. That number is higher than other jobs such as construction workers and loggers. Still, there are safety measures that truck drivers can take to make their work environments safer.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, more than 4,000 people die each year in accidents involving large trucks. In addition, approximately half of these victims are passengers in passenger vehicles. Because trucks weigh about 20 times as much as a passenger car, they are much more vulnerable to crashes. In addition, the ground clearance of a truck is much higher than a passenger vehicle’s, making it even more dangerous to crash into them.
While weekends are generally safer for truck drivers, the most deadly days of the week for accidents involving large trucks are Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. In fact, these three days account for more than half of all large truck accident fatalities.
How Do Most Truck Accidents Happen?
Most truck accidents occur on major roads, such as freeways and interstates. These roads are the most commonly used and go through the main area of a city. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has found that these roads account for up to 51% of all large truck accidents. The rest of the accidents occur on minor roads.
The most common type of truck accident is a T-bone collision. These collisions are typically the result of reckless or negligent driving by truck drivers. These drivers veer off the road or into the other lane due to a number of factors, including distraction, fatigue, alcohol, and inexperience. Truck drivers who are newer to the road often do not know how to properly adjust their speed and maneuvers. These factors can lead to a truck collision, resulting in death or serious injury.
Truck accidents can also be caused by the negligence of truck drivers or their companies. According to the FMCSA, nearly 5,000 people die each year in truck-related crashes. Failure to check blind spots and adjust driving to road and weather conditions are two of the leading causes of truck accidents. Drivers may also be distracted by texting, drinking, or using other drugs.
What is the Highest Paid Trucking Company?
The top trucking companies are not all created equal, and the compensation you will receive will depend on your experience and where you live. The highest paying companies are often the ones that specialize in specialty transport. Drivers with experience at these companies can earn as much as $100,000 per year, and their benefits can include tuition reimbursement and family travel.
Roehl Transport is one such company. This Wisconsin-based company has over 2,200 trucks in its fleet and offers tuition-free CDL training. Its drivers often choose to work with Roehl Transport because they get consistent miles, good pay, and top-line trucks. Hight Logistics also offers salaries above the industry average. This company specializes in over-road trucking, port drayage, and warehousing. It has terminals in major cities across the United States.
There are many companies on this list, but it may take years of experience to reach a position at a top-paying trucking company. However, truck drivers with a few years of experience can expect to earn more than their counterparts across the country. Generally, the more experience you have, the easier the job will be. GP Transco, which is among the newer companies in the list, is consistently known for offering competitive pay to its drivers. The company offers company driver positions as well as owner-operators.
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