April 30, 2025
Nearly 6,000 Americans died in crashes involving large trucks in 2022, yet Congress may allow bigger, heavier and more dangerous trucks on our roads. Corporate lobbyists are actively pushing lawmakers to allow transportation companies to bypass regulations that limit trucks to an 80,000-pound maximum, despite a sharp rise in deadly truck-related crashes.
Proposed Legislation: A Slippery Slope to More Truck Accidents
The proposed changes overlook road safety. For example, the Move Act, introduced in February 2024, would let governors raise interstate weight limits during emergencies on a state-by-state basis. While this might seem practical, it’s a slippery slope. Once regulations are relaxed, they’re hard to reinstate. Critics fear this could lead to enforcement challenges, increased rollovers and ultimately more deaths.
What’s even more concerning is the potential increase in the severity of crashes. The proposed Cars Act, for example, would let automotive haulers carry up to 88,000 pounds. Additional measures could allow log trucks to haul up to 156,000 pounds on eight axles. The sheer force of these heavier vehicles would cause more catastrophic damage in a collision. This concern is supported by a 2016 Department of Transportation study, which found that heavier trucks had crash rates 47% to 400% higher than their lighter counterparts.
The Urgent Need to Uphold Safety Regulations
The most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) underscores the growing dangers drivers face from monster commercial truckers. While deadly truck wrecks increased by 2% from 2021 to 2022, the number of lives lost over the past decade has surged by more than 50%. This alarming trend emphasizes the urgent need to prevent lawmakers from loosening regulations. In addition, laws that hold negligent trucking companies accountable vary from state-to-state.
“This is nothing more than turning our roads into test tracks and motorists into guinea pigs, ” says Donald B. Smith, past president of the New York State Sheriff’s Association. In an article for InsideSources.com, Smith argues that any increase in weight limits and truck sizes is “out of touch with the reality of the latest NHTSA data.”
Semi-trailers, in particular, pose the greatest danger to motorists. These massive vehicles are more likely to be involved in deadly wrecks than any other type of truck, according to published reports. What’s even more alarming? It’s rarely the truck driver who pays the ultimate price, it’s usually the occupants of the other vehicle who are killed.
Numerous factors are behind the rise in deadly truck crashes, including:
Additionally, certain states report more deadly truck accidents than others. In 2020, Texas topped the list with 568 fatal crashes, followed by California and Florida.
How We Help Victims of Trucking Accidents
If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident, contact the experienced truck accident lawyers at Waters Kraus & Paul 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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