Common causes of truck accidents are driver-related factors like fatigue, distraction, or impairment. Long hours behind the wheel without proper rest can lead to drowsiness, which slows reaction times. Distractions such as using a phone or eating while driving also take attention off the road. In some cases, alcohol, drugs, or even certain medications impair a truck driver’s ability to drive safely.
Vehicle issues and cargo problems are another major cause. Poor maintenance—like worn brakes or bad tires—can lead to mechanical failures during a trip. Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo can shift suddenly, causing rollovers or loss of control. Trucks that carry too much weight also need more time to stop, which increases crash risk.
Finally, external conditions and other drivers also play a role. Bad weather, like rain or fog, makes it harder to see and stop. Some accidents happen because car drivers make unsafe moves near trucks—like cutting them off or staying in blind spots. Even when truckers follow the rules, these outside risks can still lead to crashes.
What is Driver Fatigue and How Does It Cause Truck Accidents?
Driver fatigue causes truck accidents by reducing alertness, slowing reaction time, and increasing the chance of mistakes behind the wheel. Fatigue happens when a driver doesn’t get enough rest or drives for too many hours without breaks.
Truck drivers often work long shifts, sometimes over 11 hours in one day. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) created Hours-of-Service (HOS) rules to limit driving time and require rest periods. Still, some companies or drivers ignore these rules to meet deadlines.
When a trucker drives while tired, it can feel like driving drunk. Studies show that being awake for 18 hours can affect the brain the same way as a blood alcohol level of 0.05%. At 24 hours without sleep, the effect is equal to 0.10%—which is over the legal limit in every state.
Fatigue-related crashes often happen:
- At night or early morning, when the body is naturally tired.
- After long, uninterrupted hours of driving.
- On long, rural highways with few rest areas.
The FMCSA found that 13% of truck crashes involve tired drivers. Most happen when drivers fall asleep or lose focus due to extreme tiredness.
What Is Distracted Driving and Why Is It Dangerous for Truck Drivers?
Distracted driving causes truck accidents by taking the driver’s attention away from the road. A distraction can be visual (looking away), manual (hands off the wheel), or mental (thinking about something else).
Truck drivers spend hours on the road and may get bored, hungry, or tempted to use their phones. Common distractions include:
- Texting or calling on a cellphone
- Using a GPS or radio
- Eating or drinking
- Reaching for objects in the cabin
- Daydreaming or mental fatigue
Even a few seconds of distraction at highway speeds can be deadly. A truck going 60 mph travels 88 feet per second. Looking at a phone for just 5 seconds means the truck moves over 400 feet without the driver watching the road—longer than a football field.
The FMCSA reports that distracted driving is a top cause of truck crashes, especially rear-end collisions. Drivers sometimes miss stopped traffic, red lights, or changes in road conditions.
Using handheld devices is illegal for commercial drivers under federal law. Still, violations happen, especially when companies pressure drivers to stay in contact or meet tight schedules.
How Does Impaired Driving Lead to Truck Accidents?
Impaired driving causes truck accidents by weakening a driver’s focus, coordination, and decision-making. Impairment happens when a truck driver uses alcohol, illegal drugs, or even prescription medicines that affect brain function.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) bans commercial drivers from driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.04% or higher—half the legal limit for most passenger vehicle drivers. Yet, some drivers break this rule or use other substances that impact alertness.
Common substances that impair truck drivers include:
- Alcohol – slows reaction time and judgment
- Marijuana – reduces coordination and alertness
- Amphetamines or cocaine – may cause aggression or risky behavior
- Prescription meds (like opioids or sleep aids) – can cause drowsiness and confusion
Even over-the-counter cold medicine or allergy pills can dull a driver’s focus. In random tests, the FMCSA found that thousands of truck drivers fail drug or alcohol screenings each year, with marijuana and cocaine as the most common drugs detected.
Crashes linked to impaired driving often involve:
- Swerving between lanes
- Slower braking
- Missed traffic signals
- Delayed reactions to obstacles
How Do Speeding and Reckless Driving Cause Truck Accidents?
Speeding and reckless driving cause truck accidents by reducing a driver’s control and increasing the stopping distance needed to avoid crashes. Trucks are much heavier than cars, so they take longer to stop—especially at high speeds.
Speeding means driving faster than the posted limit or too fast for road conditions. A fully loaded truck traveling at 65 mph needs about 525 feet to stop. That’s nearly the length of two football fields.
Reckless driving includes dangerous actions like:
- Tailgating other vehicles
- Making unsafe lane changes
- Ignoring traffic signals
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
Some truck drivers speed to meet strict delivery deadlines. Others drive aggressively because of road rage or frustration in traffic. But these behaviors raise the risk of rollovers, rear-end crashes, and jackknife accidents.
The FMCSA lists speeding as a factor in over 20% of fatal truck crashes. It also worsens damage and injuries when crashes happen.
How Does Poor Maintenance Cause Truck Accidents?
Poor maintenance causes truck accidents by allowing mechanical failures that make the vehicle unsafe to drive. Trucks need regular inspections to keep critical parts like brakes, tires, and lights working properly. Without this upkeep, parts can fail during trips, often without warning.
Common maintenance-related failures include:
- Brake failure – caused by worn pads, leaks, or overheating
- Tire blowouts – due to low pressure, bald tread, or overload
- Steering issues – from loose parts or fluid leaks
- Broken lights – reduce visibility or fail to signal
A DOT inspection report showed that about 20% of trucks fail roadside checks because of mechanical problems. When a truck loses braking power or control at high speed, it can’t avoid other vehicles in time.
Federal law requires trucking companies to follow FMCSA maintenance rules, which include:
- Daily vehicle inspections
- Repairing defects before driving
- Keeping detailed service records
Neglecting these rules leads to equipment breakdowns that put the driver and others at serious risk.
How Does Lack of Training or Experience Cause Truck Accidents?
Lack of training causes truck accidents by leaving drivers unprepared to handle large vehicles safely, especially in difficult traffic or weather conditions. Driving a commercial truck requires more skill than driving a car—especially when it comes to braking, turning, and reacting to hazards.
New or poorly trained drivers may struggle with:
- Turning wide or too sharp, hitting curbs or other cars
- Backing up in tight areas
- Shifting gears in manual transmissions
- Controlling speed on downhill slopes
- Merging or changing lanes safely
To get a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), drivers must pass both written and road tests. But training quality varies between companies and schools. Some carriers rush drivers into service without enough time behind the wheel.
According to FMCSA data, inexperienced drivers are more likely to be involved in serious crashes, especially in the first year on the job.
How Does Aggressive Driving or Road Rage Cause Truck Accidents?
Aggressive driving causes truck accidents by increasing the chances of sudden, risky moves that can lead to collisions. When drivers act out of anger or frustration, they make poor decisions under pressure—especially dangerous when operating large, heavy trucks.
Aggressive truck driving includes:
- Tailgating to pressure slower vehicles
- Cutting off cars during lane changes
- Speeding through traffic to save time
- Brake checking in response to another driver
- Weaving between lanes without signaling
These behaviors often come from:
- Tight delivery schedules
- Long hours with little rest
- Road congestion and delays
- Conflicts with other drivers
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that aggressive driving contributes to a large number of fatal crashes each year, including those involving trucks. Because of their size, trucks take longer to stop or swerve—making aggressive actions even more dangerous.
How Do Bad Weather and Road Conditions Cause Truck Accidents?
Bad weather causes truck accidents by reducing visibility, traction, and braking control. Trucks are harder to handle on wet, icy, or snowy roads, and poor weather makes it worse—especially if drivers don’t slow down or adjust their driving.
Common weather-related hazards include:
- Rain or snow – reduces tire grip and increases stopping distance
- Fog – limits visibility and reaction time
- High winds – push tall trailers off balance
- Black ice – causes sudden skids without warning
Even light rain can make roads slippery, especially after long dry periods. A loaded truck can take twice as long to stop in bad weather compared to dry roads.
Drivers are trained to reduce speed, increase following distance, and use extra caution in poor conditions. But not all follow these rules, especially under time pressure.
The FMCSA reports that about 25% of truck crashes happen during bad weather, with rain being the most common factor.
How Do Other Drivers Cause Truck Accidents?
Other drivers cause truck accidents by making unsafe moves around trucks without understanding their size, weight, or stopping limitations. Passenger vehicle drivers often misjudge how much space trucks need to turn, stop, or change lanes.
Common driver errors near trucks include:
- Cutting off a truck and slowing down
- Driving in blind spots on the sides or rear
- Sudden lane changes without signaling
- Merging too closely in front of a truck
- Tailgating a truck or braking suddenly
These mistakes put everyone at risk. For example, if a car cuts off a truck and then brakes hard, the truck may not be able to stop in time due to its long stopping distance.
According to the American Trucking Associations, over 70% of fatal car-truck crashes are caused by passenger vehicle drivers, not the truckers.
Even when truck drivers do everything right, poor decisions by other road users can create unavoidable dangers.