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Table 5-3: Transportation Accidents by Freight Transportation Mode

Large trucks were involved in about 7 percent of all highway crashes in 2004. The estimated number of crashes in 2004 is up by about 12 percent since 1990, a good deal less than the roughly 50 percent increase in truck miles driven over the same period.

Table in Excel format | Historical data

empty Cell 1980 1990 2000 2003 20045
Highway (passenger and freight) NA 6,471,000 6,394,000 6,328,000 6,181,000
Large truck1 NA 372,000 438,000 (R) 436,000 416,000
Large truck1 (percent of total) NA 5.7 6.9 (R) 6.9 6.7
Rail (passenger and freight)
Highway-rail grade crossing2,3 10,796 5,715 3,502 (R) 2,966 3,050
Railroad2,4 8,205 2,879 2,983 (R) 2,991 3,179
Waterborne (passenger and freight)
Vessel-related 4,624 3,613 (R) 5,403 (R) 5,163 4,962
Pipeline
Hazardous liquid pipeline 246 180 (R) 146 (R) 129 140
Gas pipeline 1,524 198 234 (R) 244 292

Key: NA = not available; R = revised.

1Large trucks are defined as trucks over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating, including single-unit trucks and truck tractors.
2Includes Amtrak.
3Includes both accidents and incidents. Most highway-rail grade crossing accidents are also counted under highway.
4Train accidents only.
5Railroad fatalities are preliminary.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics 2005 available at http://www.bts.gov/ as of September 25, 2005.

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