ATRI Research: Medium-Duty Crash Numbers Could be Dragging Down Heavy-Duty Stats
The American Transportation Research Institute has just released research findings that looked into variations in safety trends across different classes of large trucks. The study separated and evaluated a decade of medium- and heavy-duty truck crash records and identified trends, with medium-duty trucks generally performing worse than heavy-duty.
The American Transportation Research Institute has just released research findings that looked into variations in safety trends across different classes of large trucks. The study separated and evaluated a decade of medium- and heavy-duty truck crash records and identified trends, with medium-duty trucks generally performing worse than heavy-duty.
Using what it calls a “crash rate index," ATRI isolated specific variables such as vehicle type, crash location, and weather to determine the degree to which certain factors influenced crash trends for medium and heavy-duty trucks. It says the analysis revealed noticeable differences in safety trends between different truck sizes, with medium-duty generally performing worse than heavy-duty trucks. In addition, the results indicated disparities between interstate and intrastate motor carriers.
“This research also points out that blending medium-duty crash statistics with heavy-duty crash statistics may unfairly drag down the safety gains made by heavy-duty truck fleets,” said American Trucking Associations President and CEO Bill Graves. “When it comes to truck safety, clearly one-size solutions do not fit all scenarios.”
ATRI is the research arm of the American Trucking Associations.
This safety data analysis provides important insight for targeting crash mitigation efforts based on different truck size groups, and highlights important opportunities to reduce crashes and improve safety.
“In order to continue to make progress in truck crash rates, we must improve our ability to target safety strategies across all segments of the industry,” said Keith Klein, COO of Transport America. “This research will enhance our industry’s ability to customize safety solutions.”
ATRI is now expanding this research by investigating the most critical crash factors associated with different truck sizes and configurations, with the goal of encouraging uniform safety improvements across all types of trucks. Included in this expanded analysis will be differences in crash trends between interstate and intrastate motor carriers.
A copy of this report is available from the ATRI website.
More Drivers
When Language Stops the Truck: The Return of ELP Out-of-Service Orders
English language proficiency rules for commercial drivers aren’t new, but renewed out-of-service enforcement has raised the stakes. Here’s what carriers need to know before a driver reaches a roadside inspection.
Read More →
Samsara Launches Custom AI Agent Builder
Agent Studio lets fleets create AI tools for hours-of-service monitoring, reporting and driver support, including agents that communicate by phone.
Read More →
Trucker Path Expands Reserved Parking Network
Trucker Path has added close to 6,000 more truck parking spaces to its Trucker Path Reserved Parking Network with the addition of Safe Truck Parking.
Read More →
EEOC Sues Texas Trucking Company Over Driver Age Limits
The agency says Trancasa USA rejected applicants over 65 and applied tougher driving-record standards to those over 60.
Read More →
Nussbaum, Roehl Announce Second Driver Pay Increase This Year
This year has seen a swath of major truck driver pay increases as freight capacity has tightened.
Read More →
From One Generation to the Next: How Mentorship Builds Safer Truck Drivers
After three decades in trucking, Harold Perry shares what he's learned about driver safety, mentorship, and helping the next generation build confidence behind the wheel.
Read More →
Truck Drivers Need More Than Another Alert
Fleets have more visibility into truck health, safety events, and driver activity than ever. The next challenge is turning all that information into useful guidance for the person who has to decide what to do next.
Read More →
FMCSA Removes 110 Truck Driver Training Schools from Certified ELDT List
Federal regulators also are targeting more than 160 additional training providers and launching a nationwide audit of third-party CDL skills testers as part of a broader crackdown on trucking fraud.
Read More →
Hours of Service Pilot Programs: FMCSA Readies for 2027 Rollout
Two pilot programs could eventually reshape hours-of-service rules, giving truck drivers options to pause their 14-hour clock or use longer split sleeper rest periods.
Read More →
Medical Cards, English Proficiency Reshape Roadcheck Violations
Medical-card violations jumped to the top of the driver out-of-service list during CVSA’s 2026 International Roadcheck, while English-language proficiency violations appeared among the leading violations for the first time.
Read More →