Study: 4% of Truckers Lack a Valid Commercial License

Over 56% of inspected trucks had other violations.

1 minute read

June 4, 2025, 7:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Line of multi-colored big rig trucks drivign down highway with other traffic including a yellow school bus.

Carolyn Franks / Adobe Stock

A new study from researcher Adam Wingfield sheds light on a concerning statistic in the U.S. trucking industry: roughly 4 percent of truckers operating on American highways don’t have a valid commercial driver’s license.

That number is based on random Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration inspection data, which collects information from 4 out of every 100 trucks traveling on a highway at any given time. According to an article in Freight Waves, “This issue transcends regulatory oversight, posing a serious threat to all who share the road with these massive vehicles.” The article adds, “Given the weight and risk of these vehicles, ensuring operators are fully trained and licensed is critical for regulators and the industry.”

Other data analyzed by Wingfield shows that more than 56 percent of inspected trucks had some kind of safety violation. “In the first quarter of 2025, trucking recorded 645 fatal crashes.” 

Friday, June 20, 2025 in FreightWaves

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