Safety should always be a top priority for trucking companies. Unfortunately, not all of them maintain the same high standards, and some have troubling safety records. Let’s explore the safety records of five of the largest carriers in the country.
Regulatory Agencies and Their Role
In the United States, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulates trucking company safety. The FMCSA sets and enforces regulations to reduce crashes, especially those involving injuries or death, that involve large trucks and buses. Their role is critical in maintaining high safety standards across the industry.
Factors Influencing Safety Ratings
A trucking company’s safety rating is influenced by various factors, including:
- Crash History – The number and severity of accidents involving the company’s trucks
- Inspection Results – The outcomes of roadside inspections and compliance review.
- Violations – Instances of regulatory violations, such as hours-of-service breaches and maintenance failures
- Driver Performance – The qualifications and behavior of the company’s drivers
This information helps determine whether a truck company poses a heightened risk to drivers sharing the road.
Top 5 Dangerous Trucking Companies in the US
The FMCSA’s Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) System is a primary source of information, providing detailed safety records for trucking companies. Other valuable sources include safety databases and third-party safety rating organizations. We drew on this information to rank the largest carriers in descending order of number of accidents in the past 24 months.
1. FedEx Ground
FedEx Ground Package System Inc (FedEx Ground) has over 101,800 power units and nearly 128,000 drivers. Its vehicles were involved in 2,689 reportable accidents in the last 24 months, of which 89 involved fatalities, 904 involved injuries, and 1,698 involved tow-away of the vehicle. It has an 18.1% out-of-service rate for its vehicles and a 2.1% out-of-service rate for its drivers.
2. UPS
United Parcel Service (UPS) is the largest trucking carrier in the United States, with more than 123,400 power units and over 128,300 drivers. UPS vehicles were involved in 2,643 reportable accidents in the last 24 months, of which 68 involved fatalities, 889 involved injuries, and 1,686 necessitated the towing away of vehicles. It has a 10.8% out-of-service rate for its vehicles and a 0.9% out-of-service rate for its drivers.
3. J.B. Hunt
J B Hunt Transport Inc (J.B. Hunt) has just over 24,000 power units and drivers. While it has just a fifth of the vehicles UPS has, those vehicles were involved in two-thirds as many reportable accidents. In the last 24 months, there were 1,794 reportable accidents, of which 52 involved fatalities, 554 involved injuries, and 1,188 necessitated the towing away of vehicles. It has a 20% out-of-service rate for its vehicles and a 1.1% out-of-service rate for its drivers.
4. Werner Enterprises, Inc
WernerEnterprises, Inc (Werner) has just over 9,500 power units and 10,500 drivers. Over the last 24 months, its vehicles were involved in 862 reportable accidents, of which 27 involved fatalities, 259 involved injuries, and 576 involved tow-aways. It has a 16.9% out-of-service rate for its vehicles and a 0.9% out-of-service rate for its drivers.
5. XPO
XPO Logistics Freight, Inc (XPO) has over 9,950 power units and more than 12,800 drivers. Its vehicles were involved in 733 reportable accidents over the last 24 months, of which 21 involved fatalities, 189 involved injuries, and 523 involved tow-aways. It has a 15.4% out-of-service rate for its vehicles and a 0.9% out-of-service rate for its drivers.
Contact Our North Dakota Truck Accident Lawyers Today
If you were hurt in a truck accident, you may have legal options. The North Dakota truck accident lawyers at Pringle & Herigstad, P.C. are ready to explore them on your behalf. Contact us today to get started with a consultation and learn more about how we can assist you in your pursuit of justice and compensation.
