FMCSA Crash Data Exposes Fleet Safety Gaps and the Silence Around ELD Reform

New FMCSA crash data analyzed by FreightWaves highlights a growing safety divide within the trucking industry, particularly when crash involvement is measured on a per-driver basis. As of Nov. 30, 2025, large carriers with more than 500 drivers generally reported crash rates between 4.9% and 6.5%, with Transdev Services Inc. leading at 6.56% (61 crashes, 1 fatality) and Western Express Inc. close behind at 6.15% (270 crashes, 4 fatalities). Other large fleets clustered in the mid-5% range, reinforcing that scale, safety infrastructure, and access to compliance resources tend to correlate with lower per-driver crash frequency.

The disparity becomes more pronounced among midsize carriers with 250–500 drivers, where crash rates frequently exceed 7% and in some cases surpass 11%, including AD Express Trucking LLC at 11.87% (33 crashes, 1 fatality). While the data reflects crash involvement rather than fault, and may be affected by underreporting or outdated driver counts, it underscores the operational pressures facing midsize fleets as they attempt to scale safety programs. Notably, despite renewed scrutiny of crash outcomes and calls for more transparent, outcome-based safety metrics, the conversation remains largely silent on ELD reform. While ELDs are widely viewed by regulators as an enforcement tool rather than a safety variable, many drivers argue that rigid compliance rules limit operational flexibility in real-world conditions. For now, however, federal safety discussions remain focused on crash data transparency and liability exposure, leaving ELD reform largely unheard in the broader policy debate.