If you’ve ever questioned how a company with deteriorating trucks and drivers avoiding weigh stations manages to operate—don’t hold the carrier responsible. Hold the system accountable for allowing them in without verifying their legitimacy. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is expected to oversee safety within our industry. Their responsibility is to ensure that only competent drivers and carriers are permitted to operate on the roads. However, the actual situation reveals a contrasting narrative—one that becomes evident once you examine the statistics. Let’s delve into it. (Source: 21 Pocket Guide to Large Truck and Bus Statistics.) Two hundred twenty percent of interstate carriers lack a safety rating—and this figure is accurate. As per the FMCSA statistics from 2021, the number of interstate freight carriers within the system was 690,091. From that total, 646,777 did not have any safety rating assigned. More than 94% of carriers are functioning without any verified safety audits, on-site inspections, or accountability other than what they report themselves.
