Freight Facts and Figures 2013
Table 5-3. Crashes, Accidents, and Incidents by Freight Transportation Mode: 1990, 2000, and 2010-2012
The number of crashes and other freight transportation accidents has declined in all modes except water and hazardous liquid pipeline since 1990, despite an increase in freight transportation activity.
Table 5-3
Table in Excel format | Historical data
 |
1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highway (passenger and freight) | 6,471,000 | 6,394,000 | 5,419,000 | 5,338,000 | U |
| Large truck1 | 371,801 | 437,861 | 276,000 | 287,000 | U |
| Large truck1 (percent of total) | 5.7 | 6.8 | 5.1 | 5.4 | U |
| Rail (passenger and freight) | |||||
| Highway-rail grade crossing2,3 | 5,715 | 3,502 | 2,027 | (R) 2,060 | 1,967 |
| Railroad2,4 | 2,879 | 2,983 | 1,902 | (R) 2,022 | 1,739 |
| Waterborne (passenger and freight) | |||||
| Vessel-related | 3,613 | 5,403 | 5,434 | 6,381 | U |
| Pipeline5 | 430 | 380 | 591 | 593 | 570 |
| Hazardous liquid pipeline | 140 | (R) 146 | (R) 350 | (R) 346 | 364 |
| Gas pipeline | 290 | (R) 234 | (R) 241 | (R) 247 | 206 |
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.
5In 2002, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration lowered the threshold for determining incidents for volume released from 50 barrels to 5 gallons, resulting in a significant increase in the number of pipeline incidents reported.
Sources:
Total:U.S. Department of Transportation, Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics, available at www.bts.gov as of October 4, 2013.
Highway: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis, Traffic Safety facts, Large Trucks (annual issues). 2010-2012: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis, Traffic Safety Facts - Highlights (annual issues).
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 October 4, 2013.
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 April 2, 2014.
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