Most Dangerous Trucking Companies

Dangerous Trucking

Large commercial trucks pose a serious threat on our roads because of their enormous size and weight, which can cause severe and life-altering injuries in a collision. According to the Indiana University Public Policy Institute, commercial motor vehicle crashes accounted for eight percent of all traffic accidents statewide in a recent year but 17 percent of fatal collisions. These are disturbing statistics indeed.

Did you suffer injuries in a truck accident that wasn’t your fault? Contact the award-winning attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC today. Our semi-truck accident attorneys have more than 20 years of experience helping Indianans pursue the money they need for their medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. We provide compassionate, dedicated representation to our deserving clients and do everything we can to make their lives easier during difficult times.

Our law firm can help you seek justice and accountability now. Contact our office today for a free consultation with a skilled truck accident lawyer.

What Are The Most Dangerous Trucking Companies Involved in Accidents?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) monitors trucking companies in the United States and tracks how often these companies’ vehicles are involved in accidents. Here are some crash statistics for some of the country’s biggest trucking companies over a recent two-year period:

  • FedEx – FedEx operates two trucking companies within the United States. FedEx Ground reported 2,753 crashes, including 893 injury crashes and 71 fatal crashes. FedEx Freight reported 839 accidents in that same period, including 251 injury wrecks and 24 fatal crashes.
  • UPS – Like FedEx, UPS is a giant in the trucking industry. With so many vehicles on the road comes an increased risk of accidents. UPS reported 2,882 crashes nationwide, including 1,035 injury accidents and 72 fatal collisions.
  • Knight-Swift Transportation – Knight-Swift Transportation is a large trucking company based in Arizona. The company reported 233 total crashes, 62 injury accidents, and three fatal crashes.
  • YRC Inc. – Kansas-based YRC Freight focuses more on short-haul routes than long-haul deliveries. However, the company’s vehicles are still involved in many accidents across the U.S. YRC Inc. reported 507 truck accidents overall, 160 injury crashes, and 17 fatal wrecks.
  • Schneider National Carriers – Based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, trucks in the Schneider fleet are known for their distinctive orange cabs. Schneider National Carriers reported 817 crashes overall, 231 injury crashes, and 21 fatal truck accidents.
  • J.B. Hunt Transportation – J.B. Hunt has a significant presence in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. J.B. Hunt reported 1,813 crashes overall, 576 injury accidents, and 49 fatal collisions.
  • Old Dominion Freight Line – Based in North Carolina, Old Dominion specializes in hauling smaller payloads across the country, known as “less-than-truckload” (LTL) hauls. The company also provides household moving services. Old Dominion reported 712 overall crashes, 187 injury accidents, and 31 fatal crashes.
  • XPO Logistics – Like FedEx and other carriers, XPO operates multiple trucking companies in the U.S. The larger company, XPO Logistics Freight, reported 666 accidents overall, 176 injury crashes, and 16 fatal crashes, while its smaller company, XPO Logistics Express, reported 22 crashes overall, 10 injury crashes, and no fatal crashes.
  • Estes Express Lines – Virginia-based Estes Express Lines has about 7,300 trucks in its fleet, putting the company roughly on par with YRC. Estes Express reported 549 crashes overall, 171 injury crashes, and 16 fatal truck accidents.

Most Dangerous Trucking Hauls

Commercial trucks already pose a danger to other motorists due to their large size and weight. Some trucking routes can also increase the risk of accidents, particularly those involving twisting roads, sharp turns, or extremely long shifts. Some especially dangerous trucking hauls include:

  • Driving a truck through a mountain pass
  • Hauling hazardous materials
  • Hauling oil, gas, and other explosive cargo
  • Driving on ice or in other extreme weather conditions
  • Hauling houses or other oversized loads on flatbed trucks
  • Operating mining trucks
  • Driving a truck at high speeds on a highway

Most Dangerous Types of Trucks

Due to trucks’ massive size and weight, seemingly minor accidents can result in serious injuries or death. Commercial trucks are especially dangerous when they are hauling hazardous materials, improperly loaded, or poorly maintained. The most dangerous trucks on the road include the following:

  • Semi-trucks, with or without trailers attached (also known as big rigs, 18-wheelers, or tractor-trailers)
  • Semi-trucks with multiple trailers
  • Fuel and tanker trucks carrying toxic gases and liquids
  • Flatbed trucks with improperly secured cargo
  • Dump trucks
  • Delivery trucks
  • Garbage trucks
  • Concrete trucks
  • Any truck hauling hazardous materials

If you or a loved one sustained injuries in an accident with a semi-truck, a lawyer can explain your rights to compensation.

Safest Trucking Companies

The Truckload Carriers Association recently presented awards to 18 trucking companies in North America that prioritize safety in their operations. The top-three winning companies across six divisions had the lowest frequency of accidents per million miles annually. The first-place winners in each of the six divisions are:

  • Less than 5 million miles – Carbon Express, based in Wharton, N.J.
  • 5-14.99 million miles – First Express, based in Nashville, Tenn.
  • 15-24.99 million miles – Kottke Trucking, based in Buffalo Lake, MN.
  • 25-49.99 million miles – Trans-West Logistics, based in Lachine, Quebec.
  • 50-99.99 million miles – Groupe Robert, based in Rougemont, Quebec.
  • More than 100 million miles – Bison Transport, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba

Contact Our Indianapolis Truck Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation

Life after a truck accident can be physically, financially, and emotionally painful. You deserve full compensation if someone else is to blame for the wreck. Let the semi-truck accident attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC pursue the compensation you need for your injuries and the justice you deserve. Contact our Indianapolis truck accident lawyers today for a free consultation.