Trucking Safety Resource Center Arnold & Itkin LLP

Trucking Safety Resource Center

A comprehensive resource on the mechanical failures, driver errors, and regulatory gaps behind commercial truck crashes in America. Built on federal agency data, court records, and industry research.

  • 5,936

    people killed in large
    truck crashes in 2022.

    Source: NHTSA

The Pattern Behind the Crashes

Truck crashes are not random accidents. 

They follow patterns rooted in deferred maintenance, driver fatigue, corporate cost-cutting, and regulatory blind spots. Five categories of contributing factors, drawn from federal agency data, court records, and expert analysis, explain how and why these crashes happen.

This resource examines each of them: mechanical failures tied to manufacturing flaws or skipped inspections, driver errors linked to impossible schedules, evidence that disappears within days of a crash, carrier decisions that make crashes likely, and the federal rules that are supposed to prevent them.

  • 160K+

    injuries from large truck crashes in 2022.

    NHTSA FARS 2022
  • 25%

    of out-of-service violations were brake system defects.

    CVSA ROADCHECK 2023
  • 23×

    higher crash or near-crash risk when texting at the wheel.

    FMCSA / VTTI RESEARCH
  • 190K+

    CDL drivers currently barred for drug or alcohol violations.

    FMCSA CLEARINGHOUSE 2025

Explore by Vehicle Component

Click any section of the diagram to learn about the failure types associated with it.

View all mechanical failures
Trailers
Trailers Cargo, Structure & Visibility
Engine & Drivetrain
Engine & Drivetrain Brakes, Steering & Drivetrain
Wheels, Tires & Hubs
Wheels, Tires & Hubs Tires, Rims & Hub Assemblies
Cargo, Structure & Visibility

Trailers

Trailer defects cover structural integrity, coupling systems, and lighting. Fifth wheel failures, broken landing gear, and inoperable trailer brakes are among the most common causes of trailer-related crashes.

Brakes, Steering & Drivetrain

Engine & Drivetrain

Engine and drivetrain failures can result in sudden loss of power, runaway vehicles, or fires. Deferred maintenance and inadequate pre-trip inspections are leading contributors.

Tires, Rims & Hub Assemblies

Wheels, Tires & Hubs

Wheel separations are among the most violent mechanical failures a commercial truck can experience. A single separated wheel at highway speed can kill occupants of nearby vehicles.

Browse All Topics

Five categories covering every major factor in commercial truck crashes. Select a topic to explore its subtopics and articles.