Truck Driver Fatalities: States with the highest death rate, revealed
- Vermont tops the list as the most dangerous state for truck drivers, with a death rate more than three times the national average.
- New Mexico and Wyoming also rank second and third place for trucker fatalities, raising serious concerns for those driving in these states.
- Delaware is the safest state, with truck driver fatalities significantly below the national average.
A new study from Florida personal injury attorneys Fasig Brooks highlights the serious dangers truck drivers face in certain states.
Using data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on heavy truck miles driven and truck occupant fatalities in 2022, the study analyzed the number of deaths per billion miles driven by heavy trucks.
This revealed the states where truck drivers are most at risk on the road and the states with the lowest number of truck driver fatalities per billion miles.
Despite only 558 million heavy truck miles being driven across the state in 2022, Vermont has the nation’s highest fatality rate for truck drivers.
With a death rate of 8.96 per billion miles, Vermont is the state with the highest rate of truck driver fatalities—more than three times the national average of 2.56.
New Mexico ranks second, with a death rate of 7.06 truck driver deaths per billion miles. The Southwestern state, with its vast stretches of highway, has a 176% higher rate of truck driver fatalities compared to the national average.
Wyoming follows closely in third, with a death rate of 5.88 per billion miles driven, which is more than twice the national average. It is possible that the state’s challenging terrain and weather increase the risk for those behind the wheel of a heavy truck.
Nebraska and Hawaii round out the top five most dangerous states, with death rates of 5.35 and 4.10 per billion miles, respectively.
Worst 10 States for Truck Drivers
| Rank | State | Truck Miles Driven (Millions) | Deaths per Billion Miles | % Above National Average (2.56) |
| 1 | Vermont | 558 | 8.96 | +250% |
| 2 | New Mexico | 2,973 | 7.06 | +176% |
| 3 | Wyoming | 2,041 | 5.88 | +130% |
| 4 | Nebraska | 2,806 | 5.35 | +109% |
| 5 | Hawaii | 487 | 4.10 | +60% |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 13,623 | 3.82 | +49% |
| 7 | Kansas | 4,905 | 3.67 | +43% |
| 8 | North Carolina | 10,508 | 3.52 | +38% |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 6,490 | 3.39 | +32% |
| 10 | Georgia | 18,011 | 3.28 | +28% |
While these states pose significant dangers for truck drivers, the study also reveals the safest states for truck drivers, with the lowest fatality rates per mile driven.
Delaware has the safest roads for truck drivers, with a death rate of just 0.50 per billion miles driven — an impressive 80% below the national average.
Maine follows closely, with truck drivers facing a death rate of only 0.60 per billion miles, which is 77% lower than the national average.
Massachusetts also ranks highly for safety, coming in third place with a death rate of 0.76 per billion miles driven, 70% below the national average.
Michigan is another state where truckers can feel safer, with a rate of 0.95 deaths per billion miles — 63%below the national average.
California rounds out the top five, with a death rate of 1.09 per billion miles — still significantly lower than the national average, at 57% below.
Best 10 States for Truck Drivers
| Rank | State | Truck Miles Driven (Millions) | Deaths per Billion Miles | % Below National Average (2.56) |
| 1 | Delaware | 2,019 | 0.50 | -80% |
| 2 | Maine | 1,654 | 0.60 | -77% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 3,931 | 0.76 | -70% |
| 4 | Michigan | 10,577 | 0.95 | -63% |
| 5 | California | 34,871 | 1.09 | -57% |
| 6 | Utah | 7,102 | 1.13 | -56% |
| 7 | Indiana | 19,702 | 1.22 | -52% |
| 8 | Maryland | 4,605 | 1.30 | -49% |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 759 | 1.32 | -48% |
| 10 | New York | 12,631 | 1.43 | -44% |
Commenting on the findings, an expert from Fasig Brooks stated: “The results of this study are a stark reminder of the risks that our nation’s truck drivers face on the roads. Seeing such a wide gap between the safest and most dangerous states is concerning. It suggests that states such as Vermont, New Mexico, and Wyoming need to take action to address whatever factors are leading to their high rate of trucker fatalities.
“Truck drivers are the backbone of our economy, spending long hours on the road to keep our country moving. Keeping them safe should be a top priority nationwide.
“We hope these findings will prompt action to improve road safety measures, particularly in the states where truckers are most at risk.”
Story credit: https://fasigbrooks.com/
Methodology
The data for this study was collected from NHTSA statistics in 2022 on heavy truck miles driven and truck occupant fatalities. The analysis focused on calculating the deaths per billion truck miles to accurately represent the relative danger in each state.
The full results can be viewed here.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
