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Commercial Truck Insurance For New Drivers

As a new commercial truck driver, it can be difficult to find good insurance coverage for your vehicle. Insurance companies often see new drivers as risky and only provide coverage to those who have been driving trucks for two or more years.

Additionally, the companies that do offer insurance for new drivers often charge high rates. This means you may end up paying two or three times more than experienced drivers. However, there are ways to find affordable insurance coverage if you know what type of coverage you need and how to search for cheaper options.

What Type of Coverage Do New Truck Drivers Need?

The type of commercial trucking insurance coverage you need as a new driver depends on the category of commercial truck drivers you belong to. There are two main categories of commercial truck drivers:

Company Drivers

Company drivers work for a trucking company as employees or independent contractors. You don’t need commercial trucking insurance if you’re a new truck driver directly employed by a trucking company. The company is responsible for insurance coverage.

However, you may need insurance coverage if you’re an independent truck driver working for a trucking business.

Owner-Operators

Owner-operators have their own trucking business and operate their commercial vehicles. There are two types of owner-operators: those who work under the authority of a motor carrier (leased owner-operators) and those who operate on their authority.

Leased Owner-operators

Leased owner-operators are covered by their motor carriers’ commercial truck insurance coverage.

Depending on the requirements of a motor carrier, an owner-operator with leased authority may need to purchase motor truck cargo or bobtail commercial truck insurance. If you fall under this category, read your lease agreement carefully to determine which additional insurance coverage you need.

Own Authority Owner-operators

Own authority owner-operators are solely responsible for purchasing all the mandatory commercial truck insurance policies they require to thrive. This includes some or all of the essential truck insurance coverage options outlined below.

What does Commercial Truck Insurance for New Drivers Cover?

Commercial auto policies for new drivers offer various essential and optional insurance coverage.

Essential Commercial Truck Insurance for New Drivers

Essential trucking insurance for new drivers is coverage all new truck drivers should consider to protect their ventures from significant financial losses. These coverage options include:

Trucking Primary Liability Coverage

Primary liability coverage is the minimum commercial truck insurance all trucking companies and owner-operators must have to operate in nearly all states. It includes bodily injury and physical damage coverage if you cause an accident. With a primary liability cover, your insurance company pays for the injured parties’ medical expenses and covers any damages to their vehicles.

Physical Damage Liability Insurance

Physical damage coverage protects your commercial trucks from all losses and damages they are exposed to on the road. Most commercial insurance companies offer this coverage in two parts:

Collision coverage: This insurance helps pay for repairing or replacing your vehicle if it is damaged in a collision with another vehicle or object.

Comprehensive coverage: This cover includes compensation for non-collision losses such as theft, fire, vandalism, and harsh weather conditions.

Unlike primary liability insurance, physical damage coverage is not required by law. However, it’s critical commercial truck insurance for new drivers as it protects the main asset, providing business security.

Non-Trucking Liability Insurance

Non-trucking liability coverage protects you if you get into an accident when driving your commercial truck for errands unrelated to work.

General Liability Insurance

Motor truck general liability insurance coverage pays for bodily injury and physical damages unrelated to driving your commercial truck but involving your business. This includes bodily injury compensation for accidents on your business property or those for-hire truckers caused away from your location.

Motor Truck Cargo Coverage

Motor truck cargo coverage protects the goods you haul. It’s an essential coverage option for most leased owner-operators as some motor carriers require truck drivers under their lease to carry cargo insurance.

Optional Commercial Truck Insurance For New Drivers

As a new driver, you should get more coverage to reduce risk and ensure you succeed. To do this, consider the following optional commercial truck insurance for new drivers:

Loss mitigation: Used to cover any losses that exceed your truck insurance policy limits.

GAP protection: GAP (Guaranteed Asset Protection) insurance is optional. This coverage covers any “gap” between the actual cash value of your vehicle at the time of loss and what you owe on your auto loan or lease.

How To Find Affordable Commercial Truck Insurance For New Drivers

There are three steps you can take to find affordable truck insurance for new drivers.

Step 1: Evaluate Your Business Needs

Evaluating your business needs will help you identify the coverage you need to avoid purchasing excess or unnecessary coverage. To do this, assess the common factors insurance providers use to set their commercial truck insurance premiums. These include your operating radius, vehicle and cargo type, FMCSA requirements, location, etc.

Step 2: Compare Quotes From Multiple Commercial Truck Insurance Companies

Get quotes from several commercial truck insurance companies and settle for one with high-quality coverage at an affordable rate.

Look at how the rates of different commercial truck insurance providers fare compared to the national average rates. Here’s a guide to help you understand the average commercial truck insurance cost for various coverage options.

Also, evaluate different commercial truck insurance companies based on their reputation, customer support, and availability to get the best insurance company.

You can get quotes from multiple commercial truck insurance providers at once through commercial trucking insurance brokers like Evolution Insurance Brokers.

Step 3: Negotiate Best Deal

Once you’ve identified the best commercial truck insurance providers, negotiate with each and settle for the best deal. Major insurance companies might be reluctant to offer discounts to new truck drivers, but it’s worth a try.

Final Thoughts

Getting the right commercial truck insurance policy gives you the financial stability and peace of mind you need to grow your venture. You might lose thousands to millions of dollars in settlement claims without insurance.

For additional peace of mind and security for your trucking business, we’ve partnered with TrüNorth™ to provide comprehensive commercial truck warranty protection. We can also help finance your commercial truck purchases to help you grow, even if you’re a first-time buyer. Contact us to learn more.

How To Handle A Fatal Semi-Truck Accident

Handling a fatal semi-truck accident is more complex than handling an accident involving regular cars.

Semi-trucks are subject to strict regulations that may not apply to regular cars. You must comply with all the FMCSA semi-truck accident regulations to be safe.

Additionally, more than one party can be liable for the crash. You need to handle the truck accident in a way that protects your rights to compensation for all injuries and damages incurred.

There are nine steps you should take to abide by the law and optimize your chances of maximum compensation. This will help you deal with the aftermath and get back on track sooner.

Handling a Fatal Semi-Truck Accident: 9 Steps

Some truck accidents lead to severe injuries or fatalities. It can be terrifying, but you must stay at the accident scene and avoid panicking.

If you leave the accident scene before following due process, you risk losing your truck driving license or having criminal charges filed against you. Doing this also reduces your chances of getting compensated for any damages. Here’s how to handle a fatal semi-truck accident correctly.

At The Accident Scene

Step 1: Confirm That Everyone is Safe

In a fatal truck accident, your safety and that of your passengers should be your top priority. If you’re injured, stay still until help arrives. If you’re uninjured and can move, check on other occupants of your truck and occupants of other vehicles involved.

Avoid moving any injured victims, as it may make their condition worse.

Step 2: Call Emergency Services

Call 911 to get first responders dispatched to the accident scene as soon as possible. In most states, calling the police to the scene and filing a report is mandatory if the crash led to severe injuries, multiple fatalities, or extensive damage to vehicles.

When dealing with the authorities and any other party approaching you, words matter. Be careful not to admit fault to anyone in any way when giving an account of what happened. Anything you say throughout the investigation can work as evidence against your claim.

Step 3: Collect Evidence

Start building your case by documenting the accident scene. Take pictures of the damage incurred to use as evidence when proving your claim to insurers or the court should your case get to trial. Specifically, take photos of the following:

Your semi-truck and the damage sustained
The other vehicles involved in the crash
Skid marks, shattered glass, and other physical evidence on the ground, such as car parts
Landmarks and street signs to show the location of the truck crash

Often, fatal truck accidents cause a traffic build-up and are newsworthy. You might get tempted to share photos of the scene on your social media pages, but don’t do it. Your online post could weaken your claim and reduce the settlement amount.

Step 4: Get Information on Those Involved

It’s also critical for you to get the details of everyone involved in the crash. In an accident including another semi, pickup, and a cab, the following info may come in handy:

Drivers’ names and addresses
License number of the other semi-truck driver plus the trucking company they work for
The plate number of the semi and further identifying details like the make or model
Insurance company info, including policy number
Eye witnesses’ names, phone numbers, or addresses
Generally, the more information you get, the easier it is for you to file a personal injury claim correctly if you were not the at-fault party.

After The Accident

Step 5: Seek Medical Evaluation and Document Treatment

Seek medical evaluation even if you feel fine. Keep all medical records, including your expenses, safely. You may need these to submit with your claim.

As a company truck driver, you must take post-accident alcohol and drug tests following applicable federal alcohol testing requirements. Your employer is required by law to ensure this happens.

Step 6: Get The Vehicle Appraised

If you’re an independent truck driver or owner-operator, get your semi-truck appraised to evaluate the damage and estimate the repair cost. Ensure you follow the vehicle appraisal guidelines your insurer requires so they don’t refuse to settle your claim.

For those with towing add-on coverage, you can have your vehicle towed. However, request the mechanic not to repair any damage until you clear the vehicle with your insurer.

Step 7: Contact a Commercial Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer

Consult a qualified semi-truck accident attorney before reaching out to your insurance company. The lawyer will help you identify the legal routes you can take and how much in settlement you deserve. Your legal team can also help you handle multiple insurers and deal with any lawsuits you may face.

Step 8: Alert Your Insurance Company

Once you know your legal stand, alert your insurance company and file a claim. Ensure you do this within the time frame specified by your insurer to avoid denial of coverage.

You may also want to file settlement claims with the insurers of all the parties responsible for the accident if you were not at fault. These may include your trucking company, vehicle manufacturers, repair companies, government entities, etc. It’s best to let your lawyer handle this so you can get maximum compensation from each party.

Step 9: Complete Repairs or Get a New Semi

The last step is to get your truck repaired to get back on track. You can also opt to purchase a new semi if the one you have is irreparable. Mission Financial Services can help finance your commercial vehicle loan repairs or new semi-truck purchase. Here’s a step-by-step guide on financing a semi-truck you can follow to get the help you need.

Conclusion

It’s worth emphasizing that you should avoid talking to the representatives of insurance providers (including your own) before consulting your lawyer.

Insurers almost always put their interests first, and they’ll offer less than you deserve. This will happen from when the accident occurs until a fair settlement is reached, so you must stay vigilant throughout.

For more information on financing your truck’s repairs or buying a new one after a truck accident, contact us at Mission Financial Services. We are always ready to help you get your life back on course and can customize our financing options to your specific situation.

What to Do in an Accident With Semi Truck

As a truck driver, you’ll need to know precisely how to deal with a semi-truck accident if one happens.

While it’s essential to know how to avoid accidents in the first place, accidents still happen all the time. Nearly 388,000 truck accidents happen annually across the U.S.

If you can’t prevent the accident from taking place, the best thing you can do is to deal with the accident as efficiently as possible. Each accident is different and will come with its challenges. However, the same general process can be followed after an accident occurs.

Here are the steps you should follow if you’ve experienced a semi-truck accident.

What to Do in an Accident With Semi Truck: Steps to Follow

Check for Injuries

First and foremost, check yourself and others involved for any injuries. While there’s much to consider during a truck accident, safety should always be your priority.

If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately to request immediate medical attention. Even minor injuries should be reported, as a complete medical evaluation may reveal the injuries to be more severe than suspected.

Identifying possible injuries will also help you understand how best to deal with the truck accident in terms of moving vehicles and clearing up any wreckage.

Once emergency services have been notified about any injuries, you can move on to dealing with the semi-truck accident.

Move to Safety

If possible, move your vehicle to the side of the road or a safe location to avoid further accidents. Turn on hazard lights to alert other drivers.

This isn’t possible for some truck accidents, and it’s not a good idea to try to move any vehicles if they’re in hazardous situations. However, if your vehicle is alright and you can clear the road without causing any harm, then try to do this.

Before moving the vehicle, though, you’ll want to take pictures of the car accident. This is important for the truck accident investigation – more on this later.

Call Law Enforcement

Once the scene is as safe as possible, the next step is to alert the authorities about the truck accident.

Contact the police to report the accident, even if it’s minor. Having an official report can be valuable for insurance claims and legal purposes. If you’re a truck driver who crosses state boundaries, it’s wise to know which local law enforcement numbers to call for each state you travel through.

Exchange Information

You’ll need information to contact the other driver’s insurance company. Make sure you exchange this information before departing the scene of the accident.

Exchange contact, insurance, and driver’s license information with the other driver. Include their company name, contact number, and any relevant details. Semi-truck accidents can sometimes be tricky to report and follow through with insurance, but having the other driver’s contact details will help the process.

Gather Evidence

An essential part of dealing with a semi-truck accident is gathering enough evidence to report the accident to your insurance company.

If it’s safe to do so, take photos of the accident scene, the positions of the vehicles, any damage sustained, and road or weather conditions. Taking videos with your mobile phone will also be useful.
The more detailed your documentation is, the better, as this will all help make the insurance claims process go faster. So, take your time carefully documenting the scene of the accident.

Obtain Witnesses

If there were any witnesses to the accident, ask them for their contact information. Their statements can provide valuable support for your case.

While this isn’t always possible or necessary, having an extra witness statement is always helpful to help with any legal claims or police reports.

Limit Communication

While exchanging information with the involved parties is essential, avoid discussing fault or assigning blame at the scene. Stick to the facts when talking to the police, other drivers, and witnesses.

Always try to keep a cool head and focus purely on the accident and how best to deal with it. While your emotional condition can be difficult after a semi-truck accident, staying calm and collected will make the process easier to manage.

Contact Your Insurance Company

As soon as you’ve dealt with the accident, notify your insurance company about what happened. They will guide you on the necessary steps for filing a claim and getting compensation.

Having reliable insurance is one of the most essential parts of starting a trucking company. Once you’ve found the right commercial truck insurance provider, ensure you know how to reach them in an emergency.

Seek Medical Attention

Even if you don’t feel seriously injured, seeking medical attention after an accident is always advisable. Some injuries might not be immediately apparent and could become more significant as time passes.

Avoid Settlement Agreements

While this differs from case to case, it’s generally best to avoid settlement agreements immediately.

Do not sign any settlement agreements or release forms from the trucking company or their insurance representatives without consulting your legal counsel. Make sure you deal with a lawyer when going through settlement negotiations. This will help you get the best deal and compensation for your situation.

You must consult an attorney if the accident resulted in significant injuries, damages, or disputes. Try to consult with a personal injury attorney specializing in commercial vehicle accidents. They often offer a free consultation – so make use of these.

Conclusion

Semi-truck accidents may be the last thing you’ll ever want to deal with. However, they sometimes cannot be avoided.

Knowing how to deal with these accidents will help you get through the accident faster and safer. Following the proper steps will also make it easier to get an appropriate settlement after the accident.

If you need to purchase a new semi-truck, you may need to find the right financing solution to make it happen. Get in touch with us at Mission Financial Services, where we help all kinds of commercial truck drivers access the financing they need to purchase a semi-truck.

Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyers You Should Know About

Navigating a car accident involving commercial vehicles is often challenging. Still, the right commercial vehicle accident lawyers can make things less complicated.

With the right commercial car accident lawyers, going through the claims process to get adequate compensation from an insurance company becomes simple. The lawyers guide you while handling almost everything on your behalf.

There are two types of commercial vehicle accident lawyers you should know about. We discuss this in detail below and share a few insights on what to consider when looking for a commercial vehicle accident lawyer.

Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyers: Why Do You Need One?

If you find yourself in an accident involving commercial vehicles, the two types of commercial accident lawyers you can turn to for help in seeking compensation include:

Regular car accident lawyers
Commercial truck accident lawyers

Both types of accident lawyers fall under the category of personal injury lawyers. Still, they differ in terms of the cases they work on.

Regular car accident lawyers work on all vehicular accident cases, including those involving commercial motor vehicles like buses and taxicabs. In contrast, commercial truck accident lawyers specialize in truck accident cases.

For accidents involving commercial trucks, such as semi-trucks, tanker trucks, and delivery trucks, it’s best to get an experienced truck accident lawyer instead of a regular car accident lawyer.

Why You Need Commercial Truck Accident Lawyers for Truck Accident Cases

You should get experienced trucking accident lawyers for all truck accident lawsuits and not any other type of personal injury lawyer for the following reasons:

Truck Accidents Are Fatal

The size and weight of large trucks make truck crashes more fatal than accidents involving other vehicles. Truck accident victims may suffer life-changing injuries requiring immediate medical attention and additional long-term treatments.

An experienced truck accident attorney is better positioned to calculate the amount of settlement you deserve based on the damages incurred. These may be:

Economic damages: These include current and future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, property damage, and legal fees.
Non-economic damages: These include mental anguish, fear, anxiety, and any other emotional pain and suffering experienced because of the accident.

Truck accident attorneys can also help you access medical treatment on a lien basis if you cannot pay for medical expenses upfront.

Truck Accidents Are Complicated

Semi-truck accidents happen due to a combination of factors. This means more than one party might be legally responsible for an accident involving large commercial vehicles.

For example, a truck crash may occur due to driver error. Say the truck driver failed to stop on time and collided with other commercial vehicles. The error might have happened because the truck driver was asleep or the vehicle malfunctioned.

In this case, four different entities might be liable for the truck crash:

The truck driver: Was the driver driving under the influence?
Truck company: Did they require the truck driver to be on the road for too many consecutive driving hours, leading to driver fatigue?
Truck manufacturer: Did the malfunction occur due to a manufacturing defect?
Truck maintenance company: Did the malfunction happen as a result of poor maintenance?

It’s easier for experienced commercial vehicle attorneys to identify all the parties responsible for the truck collision above and pursue compensation from each one.

Regular personal injury lawyers might find this challenging. So, your chances of getting maximum compensation from multiple liable entities are higher when you get a trucking accident lawyer.

Tractor Trailer Accident Cases Are Tedious and Time-Consuming

The stakes are higher in trucking accident cases than in other personal injury cases. Because of this, insurance companies usually employ underhand tactics to make truck accident victims settle for less than they deserve.

Some of these tactics include intimidation and delayed responses to an accident claim. Truck companies might also put up a fight. They’ll try to interfere with the case by wiping out evidence incriminating them or their commercial drivers.

You need aggressive legal representation to handle several insurers of all liable parties identified in a truck accident claim. This can be tedious, time-consuming, and overwhelming for regular car accident lawyers. On the other hand, commercial truck accident lawyers have mastered truck accident law. They can help you quickly navigate trucking accident cases.

What to Look For in a Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer

Consider the following factors to find the best truck accident lawyers when you need one:

Detailed Free Consultation

Most law firms offer free case evaluations for truck crash victims. You can always tell how much effort an accident law firm will put into your case from how they handle this initial free consultation.

Experience

An accident law firm handling sizable commercial truck accident cases for decades likely has more experience than a newly established truck accident law firm.

History of Success

How many truck wreck cases has the commercial vehicle accident attorney worked on, including those they’ve taken to trial and succeeded? The answer to this question is often a good indicator of a lawyer’s expertise.

Availability of Resources

Proving fault in commercial truck accidents requires resources. You want to ensure your legal team has enough resources to handle your case. The right resources should include expert witnesses like economists, truck accident reconstructionists, and trucking industry investigators.

Fees

Ensure you understand how a law firm charges for their services before you work with them. Usually, truck accident attorneys operate on a contingency. They’ll take a cut from your settlement.

Final Thoughts

Accidents involving semi-trucks are common even though FMCSA enforces strict safety regulations for trucking companies and their commercial drivers. Their impact is devastating and can lead to severe injuries that affect your work.

You need a qualified commercial truck accident lawyer to help you get the settlement you deserve for all damages incurred in a crash. This might not remove the pain, but it can ease the financial burden of dealing with the aftermath. So, you can focus on bouncing back.

To learn more about finding the right semi-truck accident lawyer for your case, check out our blog.

Commercial Truck Driver Salary Expectations

How much does a truck driver make? This is a common question for job seekers in the transportation industry.

A commercial truck driver’s salary can vary in a pretty big way. This just depends on factors like what kind of vehicle you’re driving, what you’re hauling, what kind of truck driving distances you’re covering, how experienced you are, and so on.

In this guide, we’ll explore the average truck driver’s salary, as well as break down some of the critical elements that influence a truck driver’s salary.

What Influences a Commercial Truck Driver Salary?

Many different factors influence what truck drivers earn. This is because being a truck driver is an incredibly versatile job, with all kinds of different types of truck drivers out there.

Before we get into the average salary for truck drivers, let’s first explore some of the main factors that influence truck driver salaries.

Experience

One of the most significant factors that influence the average base salary of a truck driver is experience.

Entry-level drivers might earn less than those with many years of experience. Experienced drivers often have a better understanding of the industry. They could be more reliable, more efficient, and more valuable to trucking companies. This means more experienced drivers have a good chance of taking higher-paying positions.

Type of Trucking

There are many different types of commercial truck drivers out there, and the type of trucking you’re involved in can affect your pay.

Some drivers work in long-haul trucking, which might involve extended periods away from home but often pays more.

There could also be additional benefits to long-haul truck driving, such as food and accommodation allowances. While this doesn’t necessarily mean you earn more, it could reduce your living expenses if you’re on the road for long enough.

Local or regional trucking jobs might offer more predictable schedules and less time away but could have slightly lower pay than drivers who cover long distances.

The trucking industry is diverse, with all kinds of different routes, schedules, and types of trucking available. Generally speaking, the more time you spend driving, the more you will get paid. Of course, this is not a hard and fast rule.

What You’re Hauling

The transportation industry includes truckers that haul all kinds of different goods. Some truck drivers require special licenses and training to haul specific loads, which generally results in higher-paid roles.

For example, hazmat truck drivers or drivers of oversized loads will earn more, as they are more specialized. Truck drivers in more dangerous conditions, like ice road truckers, will likely also earn more than a regular truck driver.

Any type of truck driving that requires specialist knowledge and skills will probably generate more money. Pay could also vary based on the type of semi-truck you’re driving.

Company Size

Like any job, a truck driver’s salary can vary greatly depending on the company they work for.

The size and reputation of the trucking company play a big role in compensation. Larger, well-established companies might offer more competitive pay and benefits packages. Small-scale transportation companies might offer a lower salary.

If you’re an owner-operator, then how much you earn comes down to how much work you’re able to take on, and what kind of work you focus on.

Location

Salaries can vary greatly based on the region – each state pays truck drivers differently. Areas with a higher cost of living and greater demand for trucking services might offer higher pay to attract drivers.

It’s also important to understand that long-distance truck drivers often drive across multiple states or even countries. The average truck driver salary of these drivers that span multiple locations is often higher than regional truck drivers on shorter routes.

Benefits

When looking at the average salary of a truck driver, you also need to consider the full benefits package that may be available.

Some trucking companies offer additional benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and bonuses, which can impact the overall compensation package. A truck driver’s salary may often only be one portion of their entire compensation, so it’s important to understand the full picture.

Mileage vs. Hourly Pay

Companies hiring truck drivers make payments in different ways. Some trucking jobs pay drivers based on the number of miles driven, while others offer hourly wages.

Hourly pay might be more favorable in situations where drivers spend a lot of time waiting (e.g., at loading docks) or in traffic. However, drivers who earn based on their miles will earn more if they drive more.

So, there could be a broad range in pay when you compare regional drivers and local drivers against long-distance truckers.

Average Commercial Truck Driver Salary

Now that we know what influences a commercial truck driver’s salary, let’s look into how much a truck driver earns.

According to Talent.com, the average salary for a truck driver in the US is $62,483 per year. This is the median average salary, with the high end being $89,186 for top earners, and the low end being $48,750.

According to Indeed, the average base salary of a truck driver is $1551 per week. This could be broken down as:

$0.48 – $0.75 per mile for a company team driver
$0.40 – $0.64 per mile for a company solo driver
$0.94 – $1.79 per mile for an owner-operator driver

Indeed emphasizes the difference in pay between beginner truck drivers and more experienced commercial drivers.

Conclusion

This guide should give you a good idea of the average pay you can expect as a truck driver. Of course, this could vary greatly for solo drivers, ice road truckers, owner-operators, specialist truck drivers, and more.

Whatever the case, make sure you’re paid fairly when taking on a truck driving job.

Interested in buying a semi-truck and starting your own trucking business? Get in touch with us at Mission Financial, where we can help you gain financing for your commercial vehicle needs.

How Many Semi-Truck Accidents Per Year Are There? (+Other Safety FAQs)

Large trucks account for only 5% of the total number of vehicles on the road, yet they cause a significant number of fatal crashes yearly.

Exactly how many semi-truck accidents per year is concerning.

Nearly 388,000 truck accidents happen annually across the U.S., and the aftermath of these truck crashes ranges from various injury levels to death.

Commercial truck accident statistics from the National Safety Council (NSC) reveal that in 2021, almost six thousand people lost their lives in crashes involving large trucks. A further 155,000 were injured.

This article explores essential commercial truck accident statistics you should know. We discuss how, as a trucker, you can prevent big truck crashes and keep our roads safe.

Important Semi-Truck Accidents Statistics To Know

When a truck crashes, the occupants of other vehicles are the ones who suffer life-changing injuries or lose their lives.

According to a publication by the US Department of Transportation summarizing truck accident statistics, there was a 17% increase in fatalities from trucking accidents in 2021, with 72% of the deaths being passenger vehicle occupants, 17% being large truck occupants, and 11% being non-occupants.

The number of people injured in large truck accidents also increased by 9% between 2020 and 2021 with 71% being passenger vehicle occupants, 27% being large truck occupants, and 2% being non-occupants.

Occupants of passenger cars are more vulnerable to truck crashes. As a trucker, you are responsible for your safety and the safety of other vehicle occupants and road users.

Drivers of tractor-trailers, in particular, need to be more careful than other large truck drivers as 74% of the deaths from truck-related crashes in 2021 were due to fatal accidents involving tractor-trailers.

The remaining truck fatalities resulted from severe accidents involving single-unit trucks. This shows that tractor-trailers are the most dangerous commercial vehicles on our roads.

When and Where Do Most Large Truck Accidents Happen?

Further interesting truck accident statistics from the National Safety Council report indicate when and where most truck-involved accidents happen. Understanding this is crucial so you know when to be extra cautious when driving.

Most truck accidents (73.99%) happen on non-interstate roads. This means interstate highways are the safest for large truck drivers, although some truck accidents (26.01%) still occur on these roads.

The summary of semi-truck accident statistics also shows most fatal accidents occur during the day (63.54%) compared to nighttime (36.46%). Fatal accidents where most car occupants died in 2021 also happened during weekdays – between 6 am and 6 pm.

To reduce the number of motor vehicle crash deaths involving large trucks; truck drivers need to pay extra attention when driving on non-interstate roads during the day, especially between 6 am and 3 pm.

What Causes Semi-Truck Accidents?

Semi-truck accidents can result from a variety of factors, often involving a combination of human errors, mechanical issues, environmental conditions, and other contributing factors. Some common causes of semi-truck accidents include:

Truck Driver Error

Large truck drivers have very little room for errors compared to passenger vehicle drivers. There’s also little leeway to correct mistakes once made, leading to fatal accidents.

For instance, a fully loaded tractor-trailer requires about 40% more space to stop than other passenger vehicles. So, avoiding an accident becomes almost impossible if a semi-truck driver fails to accurately calculate the distance needed to stop. Passenger vehicle drivers, on the other hand, don’t face similar issues.

Driver Fatigue

Despite strict hours-of-service regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), many large truck drivers work long hours. They experience fatigue, are more likely to sleep behind the wheel, and cause fatal crashes.

Driving Under Influence

Alcohol and other street drugs impair truck drivers’ ability to drive safely. Often, truck drivers become drowsy or slow to react to various road conditions. The chances of drivers causing truck collisions or multiple-vehicle crashes when under the influence are high.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving occurs when a tractor-trailer driver or drivers of other passenger vehicles use their phones or other hand-held devices while driving. Existing laws in most states prohibit car drivers from doing this. However, some truck drivers still take their eyes off the road to use their phones, and cause fatal accidents.

Vehicle Issues

Several vehicle issues, like tire defects and brake problems, can lead to fatal truck accidents. Fatal crash data from a truck causation study conducted by FMCSA lists brake issues as a top cause of fatal accidents.

Roadway Issues

Sometimes, big rig accidents link back to road conditions. Poor or unmaintained roads with large potholes, missing signage, or faint roadway markings put truckers and other passenger car drivers at risk.

For example, a truck driver may fail to see critical signage on an unfamiliar road leading to driver error which can cause a crash with several passenger vehicles.

Tips For Minimizing Truck Accidents

Although car accident statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety show an increase in fatalities from motor vehicle crashes, there’s hope that things will change. The Department Of Transportation created a detailed national roadway safety strategy to ensure this happens.

As a truck driver, you can also play your part in minimizing vehicle crashes and truck fatalities by:

Maintaining your truck regularly to identify and deal with any issues early
Being keen on the road to avoid grave errors that may lead to truck fatalities
Avoiding using your phone while driving
Resting. Follow the hours-of-service recommendations by FMCSA.
Don’t drink and drive.

Conclusion

Most large trucks are heavy, with a gross vehicle weight rating of over 26,000 pounds. So motor vehicle accidents involving large trucks are often more fatal than those involving other commercial vehicles. This is why truckers have to be more vigilant on the road.

If you get involved in a truck accident, remember you can get compensated for any injuries sustained. Our guide on what to do after a semi-truck accident explains all the steps you should take to get compensation.

We’ve also put together helpful information to help you find the right semi-truck accident lawyer if you ever need one. Please read our blog to learn more and to stay updated with the latest news in the trucking industry.