Office of Operations Freight Management and Operations

Freight Facts and Figures 2012

Table 5-3. Crashes, Accidents, and Incidents by Freight Transportation Mode: 1990, 2000, and 2009-2011

The number of crashes and other freight transportation accidents has declined in all modes except water over the last 20 years, despite an increase in freight transportation activity.

Table in Excel format | Historical data

Blank cell. 1990 2000 2009 2010 2011
Highway (passenger and freight) 6,471,000 6,394,000 5,505,000 5,419,000 U
Large truck1 371,801 437,861 296,000 276,000 U
Large truck1 (percent of total) 5.7 6.8 5.4 5.1 U
Rail (passenger and freight)
Highway-rail grade crossing2,3 5,715 3,502 (R) 1,932 (R) 2,027 2,011
Railroad2,4 2,879 2,983 (R) 1,910 (R) 1,902 2,003
Waterborne (passenger and freight)
Vessel-related 3,613 5,403 5,475 5,434 6,381
Pipeline
Hazardous liquid pipeline 140 135 106 (R) 121 140
Gas pipeline 290 290 271 (R) 257 281

Key: R = revised; U = unavailable at date of publication

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: 1990 and 2000: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis, Traffic Safety Facts, Large Trucks (annual issues); 2009-2011: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis, Traffic Safety Facts - Highlights (August 2012).

Railroad: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Safety Analysis, available at http://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/officeofsafety/default.asp as of September 20, 2012.

Waterborne: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, Data Administration Division, personal communication, September 6, 2012.

Pipeline: U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Pipeline Safety Program, Pipeline Library, available at http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/comm/PipelineLibrary.htm as of September 20, 2012.

 


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