July 16, 2025
Enforcement actions against U.S. trucking companies that do not maintain standards have dramatically slowed under the Trump administration, fueling concerns by safety advocates that the number of truck accidents may increase.
Enforcement actions by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) dropped nearly 60% from Inauguration Day to the end of February, to 157 cases, according to an analysis by The Washington Post. That compares to 382 cases adjudicated in the same period under the Biden administration last year.
How Does Lower Enforcement Lead to Increased Truck Accidents?
Zach Cahalan, executive director of the Truck Safety Coalition, an advocacy organization, told the Post that the federal government is supposed to use enforcement tools to keep unsafe trucking companies off the highways. By failing to do so, motorists are put at risk, he said.
“The inability to use those tools is a really big deal,” Cahalan said. “It creates an incredibly unsafe environment on the roads, and I would argue is an abdication of their fundamental mission.”
Why Are 18-Wheelers and Commercial Trucks So Dangerous?
Tractor-trailers and other commercial trucks present unique dangers on the road:
Each year, truck accidents cause around 5,000 fatalities and 140,000 injuries in the U.S.
The federal government and state inspectors share responsibility for ensuring the safety of the nation’s roughly 800,000 trucking companies. Federal investigators work to identify the most dangerous companies, carrying out more detailed reviews of their operations.
The decline in enforcement actions began as soon as Inauguration Day, when a Trump
administration lawyer at the Transportation Department issued an order requiring
agencies including FMCSA to submit enforcement cases to his office for review. The following day, instructions from the Transportation Department’s legal office led to a pause in enforcement cases, according to a document obtained by the Post.
During the Biden administration, federal investigators completed on average 17
investigations a month that resulted in companies receiving an “unsatisfactory” safety
record and being removed from the road, according to the agency’s data. The agency is no longer pursuing enforcement cases against more than a dozen companies, including some involved in recent crashes, according to filings on a federal website.
The backlog of stalled cases since the Trump administration’s actions includes almost 70 in which investigators were seeking to shut down allegedly dangerous trucking companies, according to a document obtained by the Post.
No Punishment for Truck Accidents
At least one of the companies that escaped punishment had been involved in a fatal crash. In May 2024, a driver for Utah propane delivery firm Tugg Energy Transportation ran off a highway through a guardrail and crashed into a reservoir, killing the driver, according to FMCSA records and the Utah Department of Public Safety.
Two weeks later, a review of the company found several violations, and the company was issued a conditional safety rating in July, according to federal records. In November, FMCSA proposed issuing the company $25,000 in fines for violations that included failing to properly inspect, repair and maintain its trucks and failing to instruct employees on hazardous-material rules, records show. Things that could lead to more truck accidents.
Two days after Trump’s inauguration, an FMCSA lawyer wrote that a regional official
overseeing the case needed more time to respond to a petition for reconsideration filed by the company. In February, the lawyer wrote that the agency was “no longer pursuing
this action” and asked for the docket to be closed.
Nearly 40,000 Killed in Traffic Crashes in 2024
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in April released its early estimates of traffic fatalities for 2024, projecting that 39,345 people died in traffic crashes, a decrease of about 3.8% compared to the 40,901 fatalities reported in 2023. Despite these improvements, traffic fatalities continue to be a major public safety concern in the United States.
If you’re involved in a crash with a commercial truck or 18-wheeler, it’s crucial to take the right steps to protect your health and legal rights:
Yes. In many cases, liability extends beyond the driver to the company itself, especially if unsafe practices are part of its operating culture. Trucking companies can be held legally responsible when their negligence contributes to a crash. This includes:
How We Help Victims of Truck Accidents
If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident, contact the experienced truck accidents lawyers at Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel today. We understand the ins and outs of these difficult matters, and we are prepared to provide swift and effective counsel for your case and help you get the results you deserve. Contact our experienced trucking accident lawyers now to see if you have a case.
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