The following statistics have been taken from the Motor Freight Carriers Association (MFCA) site

Since 1980, (the year the trucking industry was economically deregulated):

The number of fatal crashes involving trucks has declined from 5,042 to 4,572 - a 9.5% decrease.

The number of trucks involved in fatal crashes has dropped from 5,379 in 1980 to 4,871 in 1997.

The number of truck occupant fatalities, either truck drivers or passengers in trucks, has decreased from 1,262 in 1980, to 717 in 1997 - a 43% decrease.

The total number of people killed in crashes involving large trucks (truck drivers, occupants in trucks, and occupants of other vehicles) has decreased from 5,971 to 5,355 - a 10.5% decline.

Total truck mileage was over 108 billion miles. In 1997, trucks drove over 191 billion miles. A 77% increase in total miles driven.

The fatal crash rate has decline nearly 50% since 1980. In 1980 there were 4.6 fatal crashes per 100 million miles. In 1997, the rate was 2.4 crashes per 100 million miles traveled.