Freight Facts and Figures 2008
Table 5-3. Accidents by Freight Transportation Mode: 1980-2007
The number of crashes and other accidents in freight transportation has declined in all modes, except water, over the last quarter century in spite of the increase in freight activity.
Table in Excel format | Historical data
 |
1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2006 | 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highway (passenger and freight) | NA | 6,471,000 | 6,394,000 | 5,973,000 | NA |
| Large truck1 | NA | 371,801 | 437,861 | 367,920 | NA |
| Large truck1 (percent of total) | NA | 5.7 | 6.8 | 6.2 | NA |
| Rail (passenger and freight) | |
|
|
|
|
| Highway-rail grade crossing2,3 | 10,612 | 5,715 | 3,502 | (R) 2,937 | 2,749 |
| Railroad2,4 | 8,205 | 2,879 | 2,983 | (R) 2,962 | 2,610 |
| Waterborne (passenger and freight) | |
|
|
|
|
| Vessel-related | 4,624 | 3,613 | 13,546 | (R) 5,419 | 5,671 |
| Pipeline | |
|
|
|
|
| Hazardous liquid pipeline | 246 | 180 | 146 | (R) 103 | 106 |
| Gas pipeline | 1,524 | 198 | 234 | (R) 265 | 281 |
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). 2006: U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics 2008, available at www.bts.gov/ as of August 15, 2008.
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 15, 2008.
Waterborne: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, Data Administration Division, personal communication, August 15, 2008.
Pipeline: U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics 2008, available at www.bts.gov/ as of August 15, 2008.
To view Excel files, you can use the Microsoft Excel Viewer.
