Freight Facts and Figures 2011
Table 5-3. Accidents by Freight Transportation Mode: 1980-2010
The number of crashes and other freight transportation accidents has declined in all modes except water over that last 20 years, despite an increase in freight transportation activity.
Table in Excel format | Historical data
 |
1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highway (passenger and freight) | NA | 6,471,000 | 6,394,000 | 5,811,000 | NA |
| Large truck1 | NA | 371,801 | 437,861 | 380,000 | NA |
| Large truck1 (percent of total) | NA | 5.7 | 6.8 | 6.5 | NA |
| Rail (passenger and freight) | |||||
| Highway-rail grade crossing2,3 | 10,612 | 5,715 | 3,502 | (R) 1,926 | 2,013 |
| Railroad2,4 | 8,205 | 2,879 | 2,983 | (R) 1,902 | 1,884 |
| Waterborne (passenger and freight) | |||||
| Vessel-related | 4,624 | 3,613 | 5,403 | 5,475 | 5,434 |
| Pipeline | |||||
| Hazardous liquid pipeline | 246 | 180 | 135 | (R) 106 | 120 |
| Gas pipeline | 1,524 | 198 | 290 | (R) 271 | 256 |
Key: NA = not available; 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: 1980, 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: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis, Traffic Safety Facts - Highlights (August 2010).
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 August 20, 2011.
Waterborne: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, Data Administration Division, personal communication, September 6, 2011.
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 August 28, 2011.
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