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Freight Facts and Figures 2009

Table 5-3. Accidents by Freight Transportation Mode: 1980-2008

The number of crashes and other accidents in freight transportation has declined in all modes, except for water, since 1980 in spite of an increase in freight activity.

Table in Excel format | Historical data

Blank cell. 1980 1990 2000 2007 2008
Highway (passenger and freight) NA 6,471,000 6,394,000 6,024,000 NA
Large truck1 NA 371,801 437,861 413,000 NA
Large truck1 (percent of total) NA 5.7 6.8 6.9 NA
Rail (passenger and freight) Empty cell. Empty cell. Empty cell. Empty cell. Empty cell.
Highway-rail grade crossing2,3 10,612 5,715 3,502 (R) 2,767 2,398
Railroad2,4 8,205 2,879 2,983 (R) 2,681 2,428
Waterborne (passenger and freight) Empty cell. Empty cell. Empty cell. Empty cell. Empty cell.
Vessel-related 4,624 3,613 5,403 (R) 5,582 5,599
Pipeline Empty cell. Empty cell. Empty cell. Empty cell. Empty cell.
Hazardous liquid pipeline 246 180 146 106 111
Gas pipeline 1,524 198 234 (R) 284 291

Key: NA = not available; R = revised.

1Large trucks are defined as trucks over the 10,000 pound 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.

Sources:

Highway: National Center for Transportation Analysis, National Highway Transit Safety Administration, Traffic Safety Facts, Large Trucks (annual issues). 2007-2008: National Center for Transportation Analysis, National Highway Transit Safety Administration, Traffic Safety Facts (June 2009).

Highway-Rail Grade Crossings: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Safety Analysis, available at safetydata.fra.dot.gov/officeofsafety/default.asp as of August 13, 2009.

Waterborne: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, Data Administration Division, personal communication, August 1, 2009.

Pipeline: U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics, available at www.bts.gov as of August 13, 2009.

 

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