FedEx Express had more federally reportable crashes than any other U.S. motor carrier over the latest 24-month period: 3,098 crashes, 1,457 injuries and 86 deaths between September 2024 and September 2026, according to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) records. UPS was second with 2,204 crashes, followed by J.B. Hunt, Walmart Transportation and Swift Transportation.
Raw totals mostly track fleet size. Measured per 100 trucks, several mid-size truckload carriers crash far more often than the parcel giants, and some of the biggest fleets post out-of-service rates near the national average.
When one of these carriers injures someone in Texas, its safety history becomes evidence. Crash patterns, failed inspections and hours-of-service violations can show that the company knew its drivers or equipment were dangerous and kept them on the road anyway.
Below are the national and Texas crash numbers, how to read them, how to look up any trucking company’s record yourself, and how that record is used in a claim. If a commercial truck hit you, talk to an experienced 18-wheeler accident lawyer before the carrier’s insurer talks to you.
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What Trucking Company Has the Most Accidents?
FedEx Express (Federal Express Corporation) had the most crashes of any U.S. carrier, with 3,098 FMCSA-reportable crashes in the 24 months ending September 2026. UPS, J.B. Hunt, Walmart Transportation and Swift Transportation round out the top five. The table below covers the largest freight carriers by crash count.
| Carrier | Crashes | Injuries | Deaths | Crashes per 100 Trucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FedEx Express | 3,098 | 1,457 | 86 | 2.2 |
| UPS | 2,204 | 1,063 | 53 | 2.0 |
| J.B. Hunt Transport | 1,474 | 650 | 48 | 5.8 |
| Walmart Transportation | 799 | 359 | 38 | 5.9 |
| Swift Transportation | 772 | 315 | 23 | 6.0 |
| Prime Inc. | 752 | 303 | 27 | 9.5 |
| Schneider National | 701 | 283 | 11 | 7.1 |
| Werner Enterprises | 675 | 296 | 15 | 6.8 |
| XPO | 627 | 266 | 17 | 3.1 |
| FedEx Freight | 595 | 315 | 23 | 3.4 |
| Old Dominion Freight Line | 548 | 270 | 21 | 5.3 |
| Averitt Express | 239 | 115 | 6 | 5.8 |
These figures count every crash a carrier must report to FMCSA: one that kills someone, injures someone who is treated away from the scene, or leaves a vehicle towed away. They include crashes the truck driver did not cause. A crash count is a starting point for an investigation, not proof of fault in any one case.
Which Trucking Companies Crash Most in Texas?
Texas is one of the busiest freight states in the country. Over the same 24 months, FMCSA recorded 25,919 reportable crashes involving FMCSA-registered motor carriers on Texas roads, with 15,705 injuries and 1,036 deaths. The national leaders top the Texas list too, joined by Texas-based fleets such as Mesilla Valley Transportation, Ben E. Keith and H-E-B.
| Carrier | Texas Crashes | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| FedEx Express | 219 | 131 | 11 |
| UPS | 159 | 102 | 10 |
| J.B. Hunt Transport | 145 | 79 | 4 |
| Walmart Transportation | 107 | 64 | 3 |
| Swift Transportation | 88 | 75 | 4 |
| Werner Enterprises | 85 | 45 | 2 |
| Schneider National | 64 | 33 | 0 |
| Estes Express Lines | 60 | 24 | 1 |
| Mesilla Valley Transportation | 54 | 26 | 2 |
| Ben E. Keith | 52 | 35 | 1 |
| Waste Management of Texas | 50 | 20 | 0 |
| H-E-B | 49 | 34 | 2 |
| Old Dominion Freight Line | 47 | 26 | 0 |
TxDOT reports a higher number, 39,393 crashes involving commercial motor vehicles statewide in 2024, because it counts every crash involving a commercial vehicle, including minor crashes that do not meet FMCSA’s reporting threshold. Many of these crashes happen on the same corridors: see the most dangerous San Antonio highways for commercial truck accidents.
Why Crash Counts Depend on Fleet Size
A carrier with 138,000 trucks will log more crashes than one with 8,000 even if it is safer per mile. That is why the table above includes crashes per 100 trucks (power units), based on the fleet size each carrier reports to FMCSA. By that measure, Prime Inc. (9.5), Schneider National (7.1) and Werner Enterprises (6.8) crash more often relative to their size than FedEx Express (2.2) or UPS (2.0). Parcel fleets also include many smaller delivery vans that drive shorter routes, which lowers their rate.
Which Trucking Companies Have the Highest Out-of-Service Rates?
Among the large carriers above, J.B. Hunt Transport had the highest vehicle out-of-service rate at 22.2 percent, close to the national average of 22.6 percent. An out-of-service (OOS) order means a roadside inspector found a defect or violation serious enough that the truck or driver could not continue until it was fixed.
- National averages (same 24 months): 22.6% of vehicle inspections and 6.1% of driver inspections ended in an out-of-service order.
- Highest vehicle OOS rates among the carriers above: J.B. Hunt 22.2%, Werner 19.9%, Swift 19.4%, Averitt 19.3%, FedEx Express 18.7%.
- Highest driver OOS rate: FedEx Express at 2.7%, still well below the national 6.1%.
FMCSA groups these results into Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) categories such as Unsafe Driving, Hours-of-Service Compliance and Vehicle Maintenance. Since the 2015 FAST Act, FMCSA no longer shows the public the percentile scores for property carriers, so OOS rates and crash history are the most useful public measures.
Which Large Carriers Have the Lowest Out-of-Service Rates?
Walmart Transportation had the lowest vehicle out-of-service rate of the large carriers reviewed, at 3.4 percent, with a driver rate of 0.2 percent. Old Dominion Freight Line (8.4%), Prime Inc. (9.3%) and FedEx Freight (9.6%) also came in far below the 22.6 percent national vehicle average. A low OOS rate shows well-maintained equipment at inspection time; it does not cancel out a high crash rate or a driver’s conduct in a specific crash.
How Common Are Semi-Truck Accidents?
In 2024, 5,218 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes in the United States, and 5,340 people died in those crashes, according to the National Safety Council’s analysis of NHTSA crash data. Large trucks made up 9 percent of all vehicles involved in fatal crashes that year.
- Who dies: 70 percent of the people killed were occupants of other vehicles, 17 percent were truck occupants, and 13 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists, and other nonoccupants.
- Injuries: 161,201 people were injured in large-truck crashes, and 72 percent of them were in other vehicles.
- When and where: 62 percent of fatal large-truck crashes happened in daylight, more than half occurred on rural roads, and 5 percent happened in construction zones.
Texas sees a large share of these crashes. TxDOT recorded 39,393 crashes involving commercial motor vehicles statewide in 2024, which killed 608 people and caused 1,601 suspected serious injuries. Bexar County alone had 2,684 commercial vehicle crashes that year, with 18 deaths and 46 suspected serious injuries.
Why Are Truck Accidents Deadlier Than Car Accidents?
Truck accidents are deadlier because of size and weight. A loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds under Texas size and weight limits, many times the weight of a passenger car, and it needs far more distance to stop. When the two collide, the smaller vehicle absorbs most of the force, which is why 7 in 10 people killed in large-truck crashes are in the other vehicle.
Large blind spots, long trailers, and high ground clearance add underride, jackknife, and wide-turn risks that ordinary car crashes rarely involve. Those injuries are often catastrophic, which is why truck accident claims usually involve higher damages, multiple insurers, and federal safety records that must be preserved quickly.
Sources: National Safety Council, Injury Facts, Large Trucks (2024 data); TxDOT, 2024 Commercial Motor Vehicle Involved Crashes and Injuries by County.
When Is a Trucking Company Considered Dangerous?
A trucking company is considered dangerous when its records show a pattern: more crashes than its fleet size explains, out-of-service rates above the national average, and repeated violations in the same safety category. In a lawsuit, those patterns help prove trucking company negligence, such as hiring unqualified drivers, pushing schedules that break hours-of-service rules, or skipping maintenance.
- Crash rate: crashes per 100 trucks, compared with similar carriers.
- Out-of-service rates: vehicle and driver OOS percentages compared with the 22.6% and 6.1% national averages.
- Safety rating: whether FMCSA has rated the carrier Satisfactory, Conditional or Unsatisfactory after a compliance review.
- Violation patterns: repeated hours-of-service, drug and alcohol, or brake and tire violations. Fatigue cases often turn on electronic logging device (ELD) data.
How to Check the Safety Record of a Trucking Company
You can check any interstate trucking company’s safety record for free on FMCSA’s SAFER Company Snapshot by searching its name or USDOT number. The USDOT number is printed on the side of the truck cab and on the police crash report.
- Search the carrier on the SAFER Company Snapshot to see its fleet size, safety rating, inspection and out-of-service summary, and 24-month crash totals.
- Open the carrier’s Safety Measurement System (SMS) page to see inspection and violation details by category.
- Compare its out-of-service rates with the national averages shown on the snapshot.
- Save screenshots with the date. Carrier data updates monthly, and your attorney may need the record as it stood at the time of your crash.
How to Report a Dangerous Truck Driver
To report a dangerous truck driver, note the company name, USDOT number, location and time, then file a complaint with FMCSA’s National Consumer Complaint Database or call the phone number on the truck. All interstate carriers must follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, and complaints can trigger a closer look at the carrier. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
When reporting an unsafe driver to their trucking company, individuals need to provide evidence such as photos or videos of erratic driving behaviors along with details on when and where it took place. In addition, witnesses who may have seen or experienced similar incidents should come forward, if possible, to further support the claim. By taking these steps, one can help reduce the risk of future vehicle accidents caused by unsafe practices and driving violations within the industry.
Do Truck Drivers Get Fired If Involved in an Accident?
A truck driver may be fired after an accident, but it is not automatic. The decision depends on the crash’s severity, the driver’s history, company policy, and the law. Here’s a breakdown:
Company Policies:
- Some trucking companies have strict accident policies. They especially care if accidents come from negligence or recklessness.
- Accidents cause injuries, deaths, or major damage. They may trigger automatic firing or discipline.
Driver’s History:
- The driver’s past record may influence the company’s decision. It includes any past accidents or violations.
- A driver with a history of accidents or traffic violations might face more severe consequences.
Legal Obligations:
- Trucking companies must adhere to federal and state regulations governing commercial transportation safety.
- Accidents may trigger investigations by regulators. Companies could face penalties or legal action if found negligent in their hiring, training, or supervision.
Mitigating Circumstances:
- Some accidents may occur due to factors beyond the driver’s control. These include bad weather or mechanical failures.
- Companies might consider mitigating circumstances when determining disciplinary actions.
Alternative Measures:
- In some cases, companies may choose retraining, counseling, or probation. They do this instead of immediate termination, especially if the driver has a clean record.
Ultimately, the employer decides whether to fire a truck driver after an accident. They consider the circumstances of the incident and the company’s policies.
Most Common Causes for Truck Driving Accidents
The most common causes of semi-truck accidents on US highways and roads include driver fatigue, speeding, distracted driving, poor weather conditions, and equipment failure. Other factors, such as improper maintenance, inadequate training, and overloaded or improperly secured cargo, can also contribute to these accidents. Additionally, because truck drivers are paid in various ways, certain payment incentives contribute to many of today’s trucking accidents.
How Is a Carrier’s Safety Record Used in a Texas Truck Accident Case?
A carrier’s safety record can show that the company knew, or should have known, its driver or truck was unsafe. Prior crashes, failed inspections and violation histories support claims for negligent hiring, training, supervision and maintenance against the trucking company itself, not just the driver.
Texas House Bill 19 changed how some of this evidence reaches a jury. In many commercial vehicle cases, the defense can ask the court to split the trial so evidence about the company’s safety practices comes in only after the jury decides the driver’s negligence. Learn more in our guide to how House Bill 19 affects a trucking lawsuit.
The records that prove these patterns can disappear. Trucking companies control the driver qualification file, maintenance logs and ELD data, which is why your lawyer should send a spoliation letter quickly. Texas courts can sanction a party that destroys relevant evidence, as the Texas Supreme Court explained in Brookshire Bros. v. Aldridge. See why truck accident evidence preservation matters for what to save after a crash.
Trucking Company Accidents: Quick Answers
Which Trucking Company Has the Most Accidents in 2026?
FedEx Express had the most FMCSA-reportable crashes in the 24 months ending September 2026, with 3,098 crashes, followed by UPS with 2,204 and J.B. Hunt with 1,474.
Are Crash Numbers Proof the Trucking Company Was at Fault?
No. FMCSA crash counts include crashes the truck driver did not cause. Fault in a specific crash is proven with evidence from that crash, such as the police report, ELD and camera data, and witness statements. A carrier’s history can support claims against the company once fault is established.
Where Can I Find a Trucking Company’s USDOT Number?
The USDOT number is displayed on both sides of the truck’s power unit and is usually listed on the Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report. You can also search the carrier’s name on the SAFER Company Snapshot.
Why Hire a San Antonio Truck Accident Lawyer?
Trucking companies and their insurers start building a defense within hours of a crash on I-35 or Loop 410. They control the driver files, the maintenance logs and the electronic data that prove what happened. Trevino Injury Law sends preservation letters immediately, uses the carrier’s federal safety history to expose patterns of negligence, and prepares every case for a Bexar County jury. We secured a $17 million settlement in a head-on collision case involving three fatalities. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Want to Protect the Full Value of Your Claim?
You’ve seen how this affects your case — but this is only one piece of the puzzle. Our Truck Accident Lawyer page breaks down what a trial-ready firm does differently.
A trucking company’s record tells part of the story; your case needs the rest. Injured families across South Texas who want answers can get a free, no-obligation case review and learn how the carrier’s history affects their claim.
Call 210-TREVINO for a free case review. We operate on a strict no-win, no-fee basis. Se Habla Español.
