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.
-
160K+NHTSA FARS 2022
Injuries from large truck crashes annually
-
28%CVSA Roadcheck 2023
Inspected trucks had brake violations
-
23×FMCSA Research
Higher crash risk when texting at the wheel
-
153K+FMCSA Clearinghouse 2025
Drug & alcohol violations in Clearinghouse
Explore by Vehicle Component
Click any section of the diagram to learn about the failure types associated with it.
Trailers
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.
Wheels, Tires & Hubs
Browse All Topics
Five categories covering every major factor in commercial truck crashes. Select a topic to explore its subtopics and articles.
-
Mechanical Failures
Brake defects, tire blowouts, cargo securement, and maintenance failures that cause catastrophic crashes.
Explore -
Driver Error
Fatigue, impairment, and dangerous on-road behavior—and the systemic pressures behind them.
Explore -
Crash Evidence
The critical window for preserving physical and electronic evidence before it disappears.
Explore -
Company Liability
How carrier hiring practices, training failures, and cost-cutting create conditions for preventable crashes.
Explore -
Federal Regulations
The FMCSA rules that govern trucking safety, and what happens when they fail or go unenforced.
Explore