Trucking accidents, often resulting in severe injuries and fatalities, pose a significant threat to road safety. The safety practices implemented by the trucking companies themselves play a major role in preventing commercial vehicle accidents.
Publicly available safety data suggests that certain trucking companies have higher-than-average crash rates, contributing to a higher rate of freight and hauling firm accidents.
The following information is designed to help you understand which companies have the worst track records according to the data, how repeat offenders impact victims, and how an experienced truck accident lawyer can help you fight for justice.
Understanding Trucking Safety Records
Fatigue, inadequate vehicle maintenance, overloading, and reckless driving are just a few of the most common reasons for trucking accidents.
It’s not uncommon for truck drivers pressured to meet tight delivery deadlines to exceed the limits of their legal driving hours–designed to prevent accidents due to fatigue.
Countless dangerous road situations are due to 18-wheelers with mechanical issues. It’s not uncommon for a semi-truck to blow out a tire, spewing large, heavy chunks of metal-lined rubber across the highway. Or for brakes to fail on windy mountain roads.
When it comes to monitoring commercial trucking safety and maintaining records, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is at the helm. They’re responsible for tracking trucking company safety with the help of their Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) database.
Overall safety performance, crash reports, inspections, and violations are among the datapoints SAFER keeps track of.
Some of the Trucking Companies with the Worst Safety Records
Here are a few of the trucking industry’s biggest names and where they rank on the list for worst trucking companies and accident track records. Note that the fatal statistic is in reference to the number of accidents that resulted in a death and not the total number of deaths. These statistics reflect the most recent available data from FMCSA but are subject to change.
J.B. Hunt Transportation, Inc.
Total crashes (last 24 months in the US): 1,613 crashes (52 fatal, 517 with injuries, 1,044 requiring a tow) — higher than both Swift (899) and Werner (818).
Out-of-Service (OOS) Rate:
- Vehicle OOS rate: 21% (slightly better than the national average of 22.26%).
- Driver OOS rate: 0.9% (well below the national average of 6.67%).
- Hazmat OOS rate: 1.1% (better than the national average of 4.44%).
- IEP OOS rate: 1.2% — notable because not all carriers are involved in Intermodal Equipment Provider (IEP) operations.
High mileage: Reported 1.65 billion miles in 2023 — the highest of the three carriers so far, indicating high exposure to potential accidents.
Size: 24,025 power units and 24,043 drivers — J.B. Hunt is the largest carrier so far, increasing the statistical likelihood of accidents.
Cargo types: Handles hazardous materials (chemicals, liquids/gases), motor vehicles, building materials, and US mail — indicating a high-risk cargo profile.
Canadian performance:
- Vehicle OOS rate: 11.1% (better than US performance).
- Driver OOS rate: 8.3% (higher than US performance).
Fatal crashes: J.B. Hunt had more fatal crashes (52) than Swift (37) and Werner (21) — a statistic that reflects the company’s high mileage exposure and large fleet size despite maintaining a ‘Satisfactory’ safety rating.
Federal safety rating: Rated Satisfactory since 1992 despite high crash numbers and consistent safety issues.
Source: DOT.gov
Swift Transportation
Total crashes (last 24 months in the US): 899 crashes (37 fatal, 262 with injuries, 600 requiring a tow) — higher than Werner’s total of 818 crashes.
Out-of-Service (OOS) Rate:
- Vehicle OOS rate: 19.6% (slightly better than the national average of 22.26%).
- Driver OOS rate: 1.2% (better than the national average of 6.67%).
- Hazmat OOS rate: 0.6% (better than the national average of 4.44%).
High mileage: Reported 1.22 billion miles in 2022 — one of the highest in the industry, increasing exposure to accident risk.
Size: 13,880 power units and 13,500 drivers — making Swift one of the largest trucking companies.
Cargo types: Handles hazardous materials (chemicals, liquids/gases) and high-risk cargo (motor vehicles, logs, building materials).
Canadian performance: Higher out-of-service rates than in the US:
- Vehicle OOS rate: 25% (vs. 19.6% in the US).
- Driver OOS rate: 25% (vs. 1.2% in the US).
Fatal crashes: Swift reported 37 fatal crashes over the same period, a higher number compared to Werner’s 21 fatal crashes, reflecting Swift’s higher operational mileage and larger fleet size.
Federal safety rating: Rated Satisfactory since 2006 despite a high number of crashes and consistent out-of-service issues.
Source: DOT.gov
Werner Enterprises
Total crashes (last 24 months in the US): 818 crashes (21 fatal, 240 with injuries, 557 requiring a tow).
Out-of-Service (OOS) Rate:
- Vehicle OOS rate: 17.1% (better than the national average of 22.26%).
- Driver OOS rate: 0.7% (better than the national average of 6.67%).
- Hazmat OOS rate: 0.7% (better than the national average of 4.44%).
High mileage: Reported 796,071,597 miles in 2023 — high exposure to potential accidents.
Size: 9,863 power units and 9,107 drivers — one of the largest trucking companies.
Cargo types: Includes hazardous materials (chemicals, liquids/gases), general freight, and construction materials — increases accident risks due to varied cargo types.
Canadian performance: Higher out-of-service rates than in the US:
- Vehicle OOS rate: 30% (vs. 17.1% in the US).
- Driver OOS rate: 18.8% (vs. 0.7% in the US).
Federal safety rating: Rated Satisfactory since 1995 despite high crash totals and ongoing safety issues.
Source: DOT.gov
U.S. Xpress
Total crashes (last 24 months in the US): 514 crashes (14 fatal, 158 with injuries, 342 requiring a tow) — lower than Swift (899), Werner (818), and J.B. Hunt (1,613) but higher than Averitt (327).
Out-of-Service (OOS) Rate:
- Vehicle OOS rate: 16.6% (better than the national average of 22.26%).
- Driver OOS rate: 0.8% (well below the national average of 6.67%).
- Hazmat OOS rate: 3.7% (better than the national average of 4.44%).
Mileage: Reported 517 million miles in 2023 — moderate compared to high-mileage carriers like J.B. Hunt and Swift.
Size: 5,738 power units and 6,509 drivers — comparable in size to Averitt but smaller than J.B. Hunt, Swift, and Werner.
Cargo types: Handles hazardous materials (chemicals, liquids/gases), motor vehicles, building materials, and US mail — indicating a high-risk cargo profile.
Canadian performance: No inspections or crashes reported in Canada — suggesting U.S.-focused operations.
Fatal crashes: U.S. Xpress had more fatal crashes (14) than Averitt (9) but fewer than J.B. Hunt (52), Swift (37), and Werner (21).
Federal safety rating: Rated Satisfactory since 2007 despite a moderate crash record and OOS rates.
Source: DOT.gov
Averitt Express
Total crashes (last 24 months in the US): 327 crashes (9 fatal, 96 with injuries, 222 requiring a tow) — lower than Swift (899), Werner (818), and J.B. Hunt (1,613) but still significant.
Out-of-Service (OOS) Rate:
- Vehicle OOS rate: 16.4% (better than the national average of 22.26%).
- Driver OOS rate: 0.6% (much better than the national average of 6.67%).
- Hazmat OOS rate: 4.1% (slightly better than the national average of 4.44%).
Mileage: Reported 339 million miles in 2023 — lower than Swift, Werner, and J.B. Hunt but still high enough to reflect significant road exposure.
Size: 5,425 power units and 5,398 drivers — significantly smaller than Swift, Werner, and J.B. Hunt.
Cargo types: Carries dry bulk, chemicals, intermodal containers, and general freight — potentially risky cargo types but fewer hazardous materials compared to other carriers.
Canadian performance: Minimal presence in Canada — only 2 inspections reported in the last two years with no out-of-service incidents.
Fatal crashes: Averitt had the fewest fatal crashes (9) among the carriers so far — suggesting better safety management despite high road exposure.
Federal safety rating: Rated Satisfactory since 1993 despite some crash incidents and ongoing out-of-service issues.
Source: DOT.gov
Have You Been In A Truck Accident?
The Attorneys of Stinson Law Group practice tractor-trailer accident law statewide in both Wyoming and Montana. If you’ve been involved in an accident and need an experienced truck accident lawyer, please contact us for a free consultation.
What Do These Companies Have in Common?
When we dig a bit deeper, we see that there are some commonalities between the companies listed.
- High Mileage & Exposure
- Hazardous & High-Risk Cargo
- Consistently High Crash Totals
- Federal ‘Satisfactory’ Rating Despite Issues
How These Unsafe Practices Affect Accident Victims
Companies that have massive fleets, capable of covering millions, if not billions, of miles of road each year are increasing their chances of causing an accident. It’s quite literally a numbers game.
The fact that each of the aforementioned companies is known to haul building materials, motor vehicles, and hazardous materials (i.e., chemicals, liquids/gases) raises operational risks while simultaneously making the roads more dangerous for other drivers.
Consistently high crash totals may indicate potential gaps in safety practices, but they can also reflect increased exposure due to larger fleets and higher mileage operations.
While a “Satisfactory” rating from the FMCSA is the highest rating a carrier can achieve, this does not necessarily mean the company has a flawless safety record.
Stinson Law Group Fights for Trucking Accident Victims
If you or a loved one has been injured in a commercial trucking accident, you want a law firm that specializes in these types of cases.
At Stinson Law Group, our team has extensive experience representing truck accident victims. We thoroughly investigate trucking company complaints and FMCSA safety records to hold bad actors accountable and to get the settlement you deserve.
You can trust our team to diligently fight for what is right and to be your advocate for justice. Reach out to speak with a tractor-trailer accident lawyer today and discuss your options. Our firm offers truck accident injury representation in Wyoming and Montana.
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The Tractor-Trailer Accident Attorneys of Stinson Law Group practice statewide in both Wyoming and Montana. If you’ve been involved in an truck accident and need a lawyer, please contact us for a free consultation.
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