WASHINGTON — It’s hard to scan the daily headlines without seeing news of a crash involving an 18-wheeler — often with tragic results.
But whether the truck driver was at fault or simply caught up in the collision, one question remains: What circumstances contributed to the crash, and could it have been prevented?
To help find those answers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is putting up to $7 million toward a nationwide study of fatal crashes involving heavy-duty trucks. The agency announced Nov. 3 that the funding will help eligible state and local agencies gather and report detailed crash information through its Crash Causal Factors Program (CCFP).
FMCSA plans to collect detailed information on approximately 2,000 fatal crashes in about 30 states over a two-year period. Full data collection is expected to begin in 2027, following a pilot study.
Looking beyond crash statistics
Unlike crash reports that primarily document what happened, the FMCSA study is designed to provide a more detailed examination of the circumstances surrounding fatal crashes involving heavy-duty trucks.
Researchers will analyze factors involving drivers, vehicles, motor carriers and roadway conditions to identify patterns and potential opportunities to prevent crashes.
The study will build on FMCSA’s earlier Large Truck Crash Causation Study, which examined 967 crashes involving large trucks between 2001 and 2003. That research included crashes resulting in injuries as well as fatalities.
The new Heavy-Duty Truck Study will focus specifically on fatal crashes involving Class 7 and Class 8 trucks with gross vehicle weight ratings of 26,001 pounds or more. According to FMCSA, approximately 70% of large trucks involved in fatal crashes fall into those two weight classes.
The updated research is intended to provide information that trucking companies, government agencies, researchers and highway safety organizations can use to develop more effective crash prevention strategies.
Building on existing crash investigations
Rather than hiring independent investigators to respond to crash scenes, FMCSA will rely on state and local law enforcement agencies that already conduct commercial motor vehicle crash investigations.
During an informational webinar about the funding opportunity, Dan Meyer, a senior transportation specialist with FMCSA, explained that the study will use information gathered by existing investigative teams as part of their regular responsibilities.
“This means that the study is a true collaborative effort,” Meyer said.
Information collected for the study will include police crash reports, post-crash commercial motor vehicle inspections, investigations and crash reconstructions. Participating agencies will also gather additional information beyond what is typically required for routine crash reporting and inspections.
For a crash record to be considered complete, the study requires a post-crash commercial motor vehicle inspection conducted by a qualified inspector, along with an investigation or reconstruction that incorporates the inspection findings.
The study will also use data analysts to review, validate and submit information to the CCFP database.
Funding to support detailed investigations
The $7 million funding opportunity is intended to help participating agencies cover the additional costs associated with collecting and reporting detailed information about qualifying crashes. Individual awards will be limited to $500,000, and FMCSA expects to make approximately 30 awards.
Eligible expenses include personnel costs, overtime, specialized training, crash reconstruction activities and equipment used to gather and analyze crash data. Examples of eligible equipment include brake inspection tools, event data recorder hardware and software, drones and other technology used in crash reconstruction.
Meyer emphasized that the funding is not intended to establish new crash investigation teams. Participating agencies must already have personnel with the training, experience and equipment needed to conduct the investigations. Instead, the cooperative agreements will help agencies expand their capacity to collect the additional information required for the study.
The funding will supplement the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP), which already covers certain commercial motor vehicle inspection and crash reporting activities. Meyer also clarified that the CCFP funding opportunity is a one-time offering and will not be repeated next year.
Eligible applicants include designated participating and alternate state agencies, along with qualifying local law enforcement agencies involved in the study. Applications must be submitted by Dec. 28, 2026.
Findings could influence future safety efforts
The Heavy-Duty Truck Study is part of FMCSA’s broader Crash Causal Factors Program, established to improve understanding of crashes involving commercial motor vehicles.
In addition to examining existing crash investigation records, the program is intended to gather more detailed information about the circumstances surrounding crashes, including factors that may not be fully captured in standard reports.
FMCSA is working with state and local agencies and the US Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics to gather and analyze the information.
The agency’s current timeline calls for data collection and analysis through 2029, followed by publication of a final report and a publicly available database of anonymized crash information in 2030.
Preliminary findings could be released before the final report is completed. The information is intended to help trucking companies, safety organizations and government agencies identify crash risks and develop measures to reduce fatalities.
Additional information about the study is available through FMCSA’s Crash Causal Factors Program. Grant application information is available through Grants.gov under funding opportunity FM-CCFP-27-001.
Linda Garner-Bunch has been with The Trucker since 2020, picking up the reins as managing editor in 2022. Linda has nearly 40 years of experience in the publishing industry, covering topics from the trucking and automotive industry to employment, real estate, home decor, crafts, cooking, weddings, high school sports — you name it, she’s written about it. She is also an experienced photographer, designer and copy editor who has a heartfelt love for the trucking industry, from the driver’s seat to the C-suite.
