A Record Number of Fatal Truck Accidents Take Place on Thanksgiving
The Thanksgiving holiday period can be a dangerous time to drive. As autumn transitions into winter, weather conditions worsen and the number of daylight hours decreases, increasing the risk of accidents. One of the main factors contributing to the danger is the holiday shipping season, as increased holiday sales result in more trucks carrying cargo across the country.
The most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate that the number of fatal truck accidents during the 2023 Thanksgiving holiday period reached an all-time high, up 48% from the previous year.
The difference in mass and height between a truck and a passenger vehicle makes a collision between the two incredibly dangerous for the driver and occupants of the passenger vehicle. When a large truck and a regular car collide, 97% of all occupant fatalities are the occupants of the passenger vehicle.
When it comes to trucks, some states are safer than others. We’ve collected the data to figure out which states are the most dangerous for anyone visiting family or friends this Thanksgiving. We’ve also analyzed large truck accidents nationwide to find the most dangerous roads for truck accidents in each state and in the U.S. overall, so you can be better informed and stay prepared.
Key Findings
- Hawaii is No. 1 for large-truck safety. Fatal truck deaths are 0.14 per 100,000 residents, nonfatal crashes rank second lowest at 6.98 per 100,000, and both driver drug and alcohol violations and roadside inspection violations are the lowest in the nation. Hawaii also reports zero fatal large-truck crashes with a driver BAC of 0.05 or higher.
- The East Coast dominates the top tier. Except for Hawaii in first, and Alaska in 7th, every state in the top ten is on the East Coast. The rest of the top five is D.C. (No. 2), Rhode Island (No. 3), New York (No. 4), and Massachusetts (No. 5).
- Wyoming ranks last (No. 51). It posts the highest fatal truck death rate (2.89 per 100,000), the highest nonfatal crash rate (143.29 per 100,000), and the highest rates for driver drug and alcohol violations, other enforcement violations, roadside inspection violations, drivers without a valid CDL in fatal crashes, and equipment-failure or unsecured-cargo incidents.
- Problem areas cluster in the nation’s middle and South. Many of the lowest-ranked states come from the Great Plains and Mountain West — specifically, South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming — with additional weaknesses in parts of the South, including Louisiana and Mississippi.
- Deadliest truck corridors concentrate on major interstates. In 2024, I-35 in Texas (38 fatal truck crashes), I-40 in New Mexico (37 fatal truck crashes), and I-10 in Arizona (32 fatal crashes) topped state-level lists.
What’s the Most Dangerous State for Truck Accidents?
To identify the safest and most dangerous states for large-truck safety, we analyzed the most recent federal data across eight indicators for all 50 states and D.C.
- Fatalities from large-truck crashes per 100,000 residents (2024)
- Large-truck non-fatal crashes per 100,000 residents (2024)
- Fatal large-truck crashes with driver BAC 0.05 g/dL+ g/dL per 100,000 residents (2023)
- Truck driver drug and alcohol traffic violations per 100,000 residents (2024)
- Other large-truck traffic enforcement violations per 100,000 residents (2024)
- Roadside inspection violations per 100,000 residents (2024)
- Drivers with no valid CDL in large-truck fatal crashes per 100,000 residents (2023)
- Large-truck accidents caused by equipment failure or unsecured cargo per 100,000 residents (2024)
The complete methodology, including links to all sources, is provided at the bottom of the study.
Safest States For Truck Accidents
Hawaii — No. 1 overall
Hawaii leads in four categories and has top 5 scores in most others. The state posts the lowest per-capita rates of truck driver drug and alcohol traffic violations and the lowest roadside inspection violation rate. The number of people killed in truck crashes is one of the lowest in the country, and the number of non-fatal crashes is the second-lowest. Hawaii records no fatal large-truck crashes with driver BAC 0.05 or higher in the latest year of data.
The numbers:
- 0.14 fatal large-truck deaths per 100,000 residents (No. 4)
- 6.98 nonfatal large-truck crashes per 100,000 (No. 2)
- 0 BAC 0.05 g/dL+ fatal crash rate (tied No. 1)
- 0.35 driver drug and alcohol violations per 100,000 (No. 1)
- 4.70 other enforcement violations per 100,000 (No. 1)
- 257.51 roadside inspection violations per 100,000 (No. 1)
- 0.07 drivers without a valid CDL in fatal truck crashes per 100,000 (No. 3)
- 0.69 truck accidents from equipment failure or unsecured cargo per 100,000 (No. 7)
District of Columbia — No. 2 overall
D.C. posts zero fatal large-truck crashes in the latest year and zero cases of drivers without a valid CDL or BAC 0.05 g/dL+ in fatal truck crashes. It pairs a top-two rate for truck driver drug and alcohol violations with a top-five roadside inspection record by population. Nonfatal crashes run higher than in the very lowest states, but clean safety outcomes and solid enforcement keep overall risk low.
The numbers:
- 0 fatal large-truck deaths per 100,000 residents (tied No. 1)
- 21.79 nonfatal large-truck crashes per 100,000 (No. 6)
- 0 BAC 0.05 g/dL+ fatal crash rate (tied No. 1)
- 0.43 driver drug and alcohol violations per 100,000 (No. 2)
- 185.55 other enforcement violations per 100,000 (No. 14)
- 683.66 roadside inspection violations per 100,000 (No. 4)
- 0 drivers without a valid CDL in fatal truck crashes per 100,000 (tied No. 1)
- 0 truck accidents from equipment failure or unsecured cargo per 100,000 (tied No. 1)
Rhode Island — No. 3 overall
Rhode Island keeps crash exposure low and outcomes clean. Fatal and non-fatal large-truck crash rates rank among the best, and the state records no drivers without a valid CDL in fatal crashes. BAC 0.05 g/dL+ involvement stays low. Roadside inspection and other enforcement violations land near the middle, but the safety results remain strong.
The numbers:
- 0.36 fatal large-truck deaths per 100,000 residents (No. 6)
- 8.99 nonfatal large-truck crashes per 100,000 (No. 3)
- 0.09 BAC 0.05 g/dL+ fatal crash rate (No. 5)
- 2.34 driver drug and alcohol violations per 100,000 (No. 14)
- 243.10 other enforcement violations per 100,000 (No. 25)
- 1,137.54 roadside inspection violations per 100,000 (No. 17)
- 0 drivers without a valid CDL in fatal truck crashes per 100,000 (tied No. 1)
- 0.45 truck accidents from equipment failure or unsecured cargo per 100,000 (No. 6)
Most Dangerous States For Truck Accidents
Montana — No. 49 overall
Montana struggles with licensing, impairment, and equipment issues. Drivers without a valid CDL in fatal crashes rank near the worst, and BAC 0.05 g/dL+ involvement is one of the highest as well. Roadside inspection violations are high, and equipment failure or unsecured cargo incidents rank second-worst. Fatal and non-fatal crash rates fall around the middle of the pack.
The Numbers:
- 1.32 fatal large-truck deaths per 100,000 residents (No. 26)
- 46.69 nonfatal large-truck crashes per 100,000 (No. 27)
- 0.62 BAC 0.05 g/dL+ fatal crash rate (No. 49)
- 9.50 driver drug and alcohol violations per 100,000 (No. 46)
- 170.41 other enforcement violations per 100,000 (No. 13)
- 2,254.77 roadside inspection violations per 100,000 (No. 44)
- 1.24 drivers without a valid CDL in fatal truck crashes per 100,000 (No. 50)
- 22.95 truck accidents from equipment failure or unsecured cargo per 100,000 (No. 50)
Iowa — No. 50 overall
Iowa ranks second lowest due to bad scores in almost all categories. The state has some of the highest truck driver and vehicle violation counts in the country. Roadside inspection violations rank second-worst, and other enforcement violations also rank near the bottom. Driver drug and alcohol violations and BAC.05+ involvement are high. Fatal and non-fatal crash rates are above average, with a high number of accidents caused by equipment failure and unsecured cargo.
The numbers:
- 1.73 fatal large-truck deaths per 100,000 residents (No. 33)
- 59.39 nonfatal large-truck crashes per 100,000 (No. 42)
- 0.50 BAC 0.05 g/dL+ fatal crash rate (No. 42)
- 12.03 driver drug and alcohol violations per 100,000 (No. 48)
- 1,133.24 other enforcement violations per 100,000 (No. 50)
- 3,579.62 roadside inspection violations per 100,000 (No. 50)
- 0.31 drivers without a valid CDL in fatal truck crashes per 100,000 (No. 19)
- 9.75 truck accidents from equipment failure or unsecured cargo per 100,000 (No. 45)
Wyoming — No. 51 overall
Wyoming ranks worst on nearly every indicator, and in many categories ranks significantly worse than any other state. Fatal and non-fatal large-truck crash rates are the highest in the nation. Driver drug and alcohol violations, other enforcement violations, and roadside inspection violations also rank worst. Drivers without a valid CDL in fatal crashes and equipment failure, or unsecured cargo incidents are the highest, while BAC 0.05 g/dL+ involvement remains near the bottom of the rankings.
The numbers:
- 2.89 fatal large-truck deaths per 100,000 residents (No. 51)
- 143.29 nonfatal large-truck crashes per 100,000 (No. 51)
- 0.51 BAC 0.05 g/dL+ fatal crash rate (No. 46)
- 27.57 driver drug and alcohol violations per 100,000 (No. 51)
- 1,620.27 other enforcement violations per 100,000 (No. 51)
- 5,447.42 roadside inspection violations per 100,000 (No. 51)
- 1.54 drivers without a valid CDL in fatal truck crashes per 100,000 (No. 51)
- 41.18 truck accidents from equipment failure or unsecured cargo per 100,000 (No. 51)
Fatal and Non-Fatal Large Truck Crashes
According to preliminary data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a total of 4,574 people were killed in an accident involving a large truck in 2024, and 72,315 people were injured. 2.7% of large truck crashes in 2024 resulted in fatalities. While this may seem like a small percentage, large truck crashes are much more deadly than regular passenger vehicle accidents.
We can appreciate this when we view the fatality rate for all accidents in the U.S. In 2023, out of the 6,138,359 total motor vehicle crashes (large truck, bus, regular passenger vehicle, etc.) in 2023 (the latest year with NHTSA data), only 37,654 (0.61%) were fatal. This means that large truck accidents are almost 5 times more likely to result in fatalities than the average accident.
While a large truck crash may be caused by driver error or environmental conditions, it can also be attributed to improper maintenance of equipment or inadequate loading procedures. Of the 151,571 large truck crashes in 2024, 12,728 (8.4%) were crashes where the “first harmful event” was an equipment failure, fire, or cargo loss or shift. In the context of FMCSA data, the “first harmful event” is defined as the first injury- or damage-producing event in a crash sequence.
This illustrates the importance of proper maintenance and safety checks. Perhaps many of these large truck crashes could have been prevented through better motor carrier procedures, and hundreds of lives may have been saved.
Fatal large-truck crashes (per 100,000 residents): The five best states are District of Columbia (0, #1 tie), Vermont (0, #1 tie), Delaware (0.10, #3), Hawaii (0.14, #4) and Massachusetts (0.25, #5). The five worst are South Dakota (2.49, #47), Arkansas (2.62, #48), North Dakota (2.64, #49), Oklahoma (2.64, #50), and Wyoming (2.89, #51).
Nonfatal large-truck crashes (per 100,000 residents): The five best states are Alaska (4.19, #1), Hawaii (6.98, #2), Rhode Island (8.99, #3), New York (17.00, #4), and Washington (21.61, #5). The five worst are Louisiana (72.69, #47), Georgia (73.97, #48), Missouri (78.42, #49), Arkansas (79.10, #50), and Wyoming (143.29, #51).
Crashes where the first harmful event is equipment failure or shifted or unsecured cargo (per 100,000 residents): The five best states are District of Columbia (0, #1 tie), Pennsylvania (0, #1 tie), Texas (0, #1 tie), Alaska (0.14, #4) and Missouri (0.18, #5). The five worst are Alabama (10.61, #47), Oklahoma (13.75, #48), Kansas (13.77, #49), Montana (22.95, #50) and Wyoming (41.18, #51).
Impairment and BAC Outcomes
Impairment remains a critical risk for heavy vehicles. Decreased driver reflexes become even more dangerous when the vehicle being driven has significantly more mass than anything else on the road. Of the 4,896 fatal large truck crashes in 2023, 970 (19.8%) involved a driver with a blood alcohol level of 0.05 g/dL+, above the legal commercial limit of 0.04 g/dL. In 2024, the FMCSA recorded 11,054 drug & alcohol traffic violations from large truck drivers.
Fatal large-truck crashes with driver BAC 0.05 g/dL+ (per 100,000 residents): The five best states are District of Columbia (0, #1 tie), Hawaii (0, #1 tie), Maine (0.07, #3), Massachusetts (0.08, #4), and Rhode Island (0.09, #5). The five worst are New Mexico (0.66, #51), North Dakota (0.63, #50), Montana (0.62, #49), Texas (0.60, #48), and Louisiana (0.54, #47).
Truck driver drug and alcohol traffic violations (per 100,000 residents): The five best states are Hawaii (0.35, #1), District of Columbia (0.43, #2), Florida (1.05, #3), New Jersey (1.07, #4), and California (1.15, #5). The five worst are Wyoming (27.57, #51), Arkansas (12.60, #50), South Dakota (12.55, #49), Iowa (12.03, #48), and Montana (9.50, #46).
Roadside Inspections and Operational Traffic Violations
Roadside inspection violations flag problems identified during commercial vehicle inspections, ranging from brake and tire issues to lighting and load securement concerns. Operational traffic violations capture on-road behavior and record issues not categorized as drug or alcohol-related, such as speeding, signal violations, following distance, lane use, and registration or record defects.
Roadside inspection violations (per 100,000 residents): The five best states are Hawaii (257.51, #1), Illinois (496.85, #2), North Carolina (585.05, #3), District of Columbia (683.66, #4), and Florida (744.52, #5). The five worst are Arkansas (2,468.34, #47), South Dakota (2,788.57, #48), New Mexico (3,092.30, #49), Iowa (3,579.62, #50) and Wyoming (5,447.42, #51).
Traffic violations, non-drugs and alcohol (per 100,000 residents): The five best states are Hawaii (4.70, #1), Alaska (19.86, #2), Oregon (43.02, #3), Texas (66.78, #4), and North Carolina (72.94, #5). The five worst are Massachusetts (530, #47), Pennsylvania (591.75, #48), New Mexico (865.20, #49), Iowa (1,133.24, #50), and Wyoming (1,620.27, #51).
Licensing Compliance in Fatal Crashes (CDL)
A commercial driver’s license is required for most combinations or single vehicles above federal weight thresholds, placarded hazmat, or vehicles carrying 16 or more passengers. Many lighter box trucks, some heavy pickups, and certain local-use vehicles fall below those thresholds, so a driver may not need a CDL. Compared with countries that license a wider range of commercial-use cars, this creates bigger gaps in training and oversight. When drivers without a valid CDL appear in fatal large-truck crashes, it signals heightened risk around credentialing and fleet controls.
Drivers without a valid CDL in large-truck fatal crashes (per 100,000 residents): The five best are District of Columbia (0, #1 tie), Rhode Island (0, #1 tie), Hawaii (0.07, #3), Maryland (0.11, #4), and Massachusetts (0.14, #5). The five worst are Louisiana (0.74, #47), Oklahoma (0.81, #48), Mississippi (0.85, #49), Montana (1.24, #50), and Wyoming (1.54, #51).
Most Dangerous Road for Truck Accidents in Each State
Most of the deadliest corridors are interstates. Of the 51 entries, 44 are interstates, 4 are U.S. highways, 1 is a state highway, 1 is a principal arterial in D.C., and 1 is a county road in Hawaii.
The highest counts in a single state typically occur along long-haul freight routes. I-35 in Texas (38 fatal truck crashes), I-40 in New Mexico (37), and I-10 in Arizona (32) lead the list, followed by I-40 in Tennessee (21), I-95 in Florida (20), and I-75 in Georgia (19). Other high-count single-state corridors include I-80 in Wyoming (17), I-10 in Louisiana (16), and I-44 in Oklahoma (14).
While the highest number of fatal truck crashes in a single state was 38 on the I-35 in Texas, long interstates that span multiple states have higher rates of fatal truck crashes. The most dangerous road overall is the I-10, with 122 fatal truck crashes across eight states in 2023, followed by the I-40 (101) and I-80 (83).
These long interstate corridors carry the most freight and link major metropolitan areas, ports, and border crossings, which increases the risk for anyone traveling on them. Most of the roads with the highest risk are cross-country routes in the South, West, and Midwest of the U.S.
Methodology
We created our state ranking by comparing the most recent available data for eight statistics related to large truck accidents. State population data from the U.S. Census Bureau was used to calculate rates per 100,000. Each metric was standardized using Z-score distributions and any outliers were capped at ±2. Each state’s standardized values were then averaged to produce the final score and rank.
Sources used in the analysis:
- Large-truck fatalities per 100,000 residents, 2024 — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- Large-truck nonfatal crashes per 100,000 residents, 2024 — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- Fatal large-truck crashes with driver BAC 0.05 g/dL+ per 100,000 residents, 2023 — NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System
- Drivers with no valid CDL in large-truck fatal crashes per 100,000 residents, 2023 — NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System
- Truck driver drug and alcohol traffic violations per 100,000 residents, 2024 — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- Other large-truck traffic enforcement violations per 100,000 residents, 2024 — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- Roadside inspection violations per 100,000 residents, 2024 — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- Large-truck crashes caused by equipment failure or unsecured cargo per 100,000 residents, 2024 — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
