Top 10 Most Dangerous Trucking Companies in The U.S.

Commercial trucks are the backbone of the American economy, transporting over 70% of all shipped goods. This vital role necessitates strong trucking industry standards. These standards ensure not only fair treatment for truck drivers but also the safety of everyone on the road.

Semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, and other big rigs are much larger than passenger cars, meaning that in a wreck, they pose a great danger to other drivers.

When carriers or their employees act negligently, they can cause deadly truck wrecks causing millions in damages. 

Most trucking companies take their responsibilities seriously, but others—including some of the largest in the country—are careless about safety, leading to truck crashes, severe injuries, and wrongful death.

Looking to hold a negligent trucking company accountable? If you were injured in an accident with a truck from one of the companies listed below, a Louisiana personal injury attorney can help. You may be eligible for compensation for your injuries.

Trucking Companies with the Highest Accident Rates in the United States

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) System shows that companies such as FedEx Ground and UPS often rank high in reported trucking accidents. 

While these stand out as the most dangerous trucking companies, truck accident statistics show several others also pose risks on the roads every day.

FedEx

FedEx’s vast operation ( 160,000+ drivers, 100,000+ vehicles) raises safety concerns, making it one of the most dangerous trucking companies. Between mid-2020 and mid-2022:

• Over 1,160 crashes
• 109 fatal crashes, with FedEx Ground having the most nationwide (80) during that time.
• There were also 911 injury accidents.

UPS

Despite being the largest trucking company in the U.S., with 134,000 vehicles and a workforce of 127,000 drivers, UPS is also one of the most dangerous. From April 2020 to April 2022, UPS had:

• Over 1,082 crashes
• 74 fatal crashes (second-highest nationwide)
• 1,053 injury accidents (second-highest nationwide)
• High injury accident rate (0.158)

Truck Companies with the Highest Fatal Accident Rate

Averitt Express

Tennessee-based trucking company Averitt Express, while smaller than industry leaders like Werner Enterprises, holds a concerning distinction. 

Averitt Express has the highest fatal accident rate in the U.S. (0.022 per million miles traveled) based on data from April 2020 to April 2022.

U.S. Xpress

U.S. Xpress, a leading trucking company based in Tennessee, oversees a fleet of 7,000 trucks, with a notable portion (2,000) operated by independent contractors. 

However, the company has come under scrutiny following reports of 20 fatal crashes between 2020 and 2022 and an injury rate of 0.173.

XPO Logistics Freight

XPO Logistics Freight, a major transport company with over 11,000 drivers, faces safety scrutiny. 

Their trucks receive a higher-than-average out-of-service (OOS) flag rate during hazardous materials (hazmat) transport. This is troubling, especially since XPO trucks have been in 21 fatal truck accidents and 181 injury crashes.

J.B. Hunt Transport

J.B. Hunt Transport is a major player in the trucking industry, with a workforce of 25,700 drivers who operate a massive fleet of 22,500 vehicles. 

Between June 2020 and 2022, their trucks were in 543 crashes, with 50 resulting in fatalities, which is alarming. This high crash rate, coupled with an injury rate of 0.184, demands immediate attention to improve safety protocols for both drivers and the public.

Some of the Other Most Dangerous Trucking Companies

Swift Transportation, Inc.

Despite its vast fleet (15,000 drivers, 16,000 vehicles), Swift Transportation has a less-than-stellar safety record. FMCSA data shows:

• Nearly 15% of trucks have safety violations.
• 289 crashes occurred in the past two years, with 28 fatalities.
• One of the top five trucking companies with the highest number of injury accidents.

Werner Enterprises

While a major player in transportation (smaller than FedEx Freight in drivers), Werner Enterprises has a less than satisfactory crash history.

Between 2020 and 2022, their trucks were in 271 crashes, and sadly, 16 of them resulted in fatalities.

Estes Express Lines

Despite maintaining America’s commerce with a committed workforce of 8,000 drivers, Estes Express Lines trucks were in a worrying number of crashes (163) from 2020 to 2022, resulting in 15 tragic fatalities.

Schneider National Carriers

The trucking giant, Schneider National Carriers, with a workforce of 12,500 drivers, has experienced a concerning number of crashes involving their fleet over the past two years. 

Schneider trucks have been in over 200 accidents, resulting in 20 fatalities.

Why Is Truck Driving so Dangerous?

One of the main reasons truckers and trucking companies must follow safety rules is the sheer size and weight of trucks increase their risk of accidents.

They are much heavier than passenger vehicles, which means not only that they’re harder to stop or evade a wreck, but that they’re much more dangerous if involved in a wreck.

Any traffic accident has the ability to cause catastrophic injuries or kill its victims. Commercial truck accidents are much more likely to do so due to simple physics. 

That’s why it’s important for truck drivers to take regular breaks and follow special rules of the road so that they don’t experience driver fatigue, engage in distracted driving, or aggressive driving.

Be Aware of Dangerous Truck Drivers

Knowing which trucking companies have a higher rate of accidents can be crucial for drivers on the road. By staying informed, you can be extra cautious when sharing the road with large trucks and buses. 

Thankfully, all interstate commercial vehicles are subject to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). These federal regulations establish minimum safety standards to help keep everyone safe.

What to Do If You’ve Been Hit by a Truck

Tractor-trailer accidents can cause immense emotional distress and other hardships. You may be dealing with overwhelming medical expenses, enduring pain, and struggling to maintain employment. 

If you’ve tragically lost a loved one, the emotional burden is even heavier. If the accident resulted from the trucker’s negligence or the trucking company’s failures, you may have grounds for compensation to cover your losses.

An experienced truck accident attorney from Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys can help you navigate this difficult time and hold the responsible parties accountable.

Contact our team of Louisiana truck accident attorneys today for a free consultation at 888.501.7888, and let’s explore your legal options together.