The Truck Safety Coalition (TSC) calls for road safety reforms following deadly truck crash report.
The Truck Safety Coalition (TSC) is calling for safety reforms in the trucking industry after reviewing data published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on fatal truck crashes.
The report, titled Deadliest Truck Crash States, was developed by the Coalition in collaboration with Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways (CRASH Foundation) and Parents Against Tired Truckers (P.A.T.T.). It ranks states based on the number of truck crash deaths per 100,000 residents. Although the data is from 2023, the most recent year for which information is available, the numbers indicate a clear need for action to reduce these fatalities in the United States.

Truck Safety Coalition demands road safety reforms
Currently, the data in the report shows a positive trend, with safety improving over the past two years. Recently, the NHTSA released an analysis showing an 8.2% decrease in traffic fatalities during the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Nonetheless, the TSC continues to advocate for additional safety measures.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has begun addressing the issue. In August of this year, the agency announced plans to launch a new study on fatal large truck crashes, in accordance with the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
Through a data collection request submitted to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the FMCSA will develop a study titled Crash Causal Factors Program: Large Truck Crash Causal Data Collection. The data will be gathered over a two-year period, with the study expected to begin in early 2026, according to the agency.
However, understanding the numbers is not enough, concrete action is essential to improve road safety. For this reason, according to data shared by Commercial Carrier Journal, the Truck Safety Coalition urges lawmakers and the Department of Transportation to:
- Require automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems on all newly manufactured commercial motor vehicles (CMVs).
- Mandate that new carriers pass a knowledge exam demonstrating their understanding and ability to apply the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs), which are critical for safely operating a motor carrier business.
- Provide stronger incentives for carriers to comply with existing laws that require truck drivers to undergo drug and alcohol testing following a fatal crash.
- Support the passage of the Sarah Debbink-Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act (H.R. 2011/S. 944), which gives states more flexibility in using federal funds to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians.
- Enact the Postal Vehicle Crash Fatality Notification Act of 2025 (H.R. 75), which would require the U.S. Postal Service to issue rules mandating the collection, tracking, and public reporting of data related to fatalities and injuries from crashes involving mail-carrying vehicles.
Some actions are already underway. The FMCSA and NHTSA have proposed a regulation to standardize the performance of AEB systems in heavy-duty trucks and set maintenance requirements for vehicles equipped with such technology. This rule is part of the mandate outlined in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Additionally, the FMCSA is considering the implementation of a fitness exam for new carriers, with a proposal expected in May 2026.

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