Alcohol-impaired drivers of large trucks were involved in 19% more fatal traffic crashes in 2023 than the year prior, according to a recently published report by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
This is a concerning increase — especially since drivers of passenger cars, pickup trucks, SUVs and motorcycles saw significant decreases in alcohol-related fatal crashes.
The 15-page report examines the data collected throughout 2023 and compares it to the 2022 data set. In many categories, traffic fatalities decreased. Safety improvements are evident throughout the report.
So, why are truckers drinking and driving more than before?
Alcohol-Impaired Driving Statistics for 2023
In 2023, there were 12,429 alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities — a 7.6% decrease from 2022, NHTSA reports. These crashes made up 30% of the year’s total fatalities. This is an improvement.
The report breaks down these fatal, impaired-driving crashes by the vehicle type involved. Almost all of them saw improvements:
- Passenger cars: 7.4% decrease
- SUVs: 8.7% decrease
- Pickup trucks: 12% decrease
- Vans: 9.7% decrease
- Motorcycles: 5.9% decrease
The only category that increased? Large trucks, with a 19% increase.
This category includes medium or heavy trucks over 10,000 pounds, like semi tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, flatbed trucks, dump trucks and other commercial motor vehicles.
This analysis only examined fatal crashes. Wrecks that resulted in serious injuries without death were not part of this. However, collisions between heavy trucks and passenger vehicles are often fatal, as commercial motor vehicles are huge, heavy machines.
What Counts as Drunk Driving? Limits on Blood Alcohol Content
The federal limit for BAC (blood alcohol content) while driving is 0.08%.
The number of drinks it takes to reach this point varies by person. An individual’s weight, metabolism, the medications they take, how quickly they drink, etc. can impact how alcohol affects them.
Typically, two to four drinks is enough to reach a BAC of 0.08%. However, it is important to remember that it is never “safe” to drive after consuming alcohol. Even after one drink, a person may experience impaired judgment, lightheadedness, or slowed reaction time.
As of 2025, Utah is the only state to have lowered its legal BAC driving limit. Dropping the limit from 0.08% to 0.05% has resulted in a reported 20% decrease in drunk driving deaths.
Many lawmakers believe that the legal limit should be changed and have introduced bills to change state laws. Hawaii, Washington and North Carolina are among the states currently considering bills to lower the legal limits. In Washington state, similar proposals failed in 2020, 2022, and 2024.
CDL Holders Are Held to a Higher Standard, Lower BAC Limit
Despite the 0.08% rule that governs the general public, anyone who holds a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is limited to a legal BAC of 0.04%.
If a truck driver is caught with a BAC of 0.04% or higher while operating a commercial motor vehicle, their CDL can be suspended for a minimum of one year. After more than one DUI, a trucker can face a CDL lifetime ban.
Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Monitors Trucker Impairment
The FMCSA’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is a searchable online database that stores commercial drivers’ drug and alcohol violations. With it, employers can record their drivers’ drug and alcohol records and screen prospective employees. Drivers can access their own records on the database, as well.
The majority of the violations reported to the Clearinghouse are drug related. However, it is a valuable resource for tracking alcohol violations.
In 2020, the first full year of data collection, 53,463 drug and alcohol violations were reported to the Clearinghouse. Last year, in 2024, there were 62,842 violations reported. This is a 17.5% increase.
Concerningly, alcohol violations seem to be increasing at a higher rate than the total violations. Since 2020, the number of alcohol violations reported to the Clearinghouse increased by 53%, from 1,104 to 1,689.
These violations include actual knowledge of an alcohol violation, an alcohol test refusal, or a BAC of 0.04% or greater. The majority of these fall into the latter category.
Despite the consequences — losing one’s CDL and being unable to work — more and more truck drivers are drinking and driving.
Drunk and Driving a Semi-Truck: A Disastrous Combination
As recently as May 6, news articles report, trucker impairment has destroyed lives. John Walter McAdams was driving a semi tractor-trailer on I-65 along the Tennessee River Bridge — with a BAC of 0.08%.
He has been accused of causing six to eight wrecks along a 27-mile stretch in the evening of May 6, 2025. One of these wrecks killed William Hardrick, a 22-year-old football player at Austin Peay State University.
The 31-year-old truck driver, McAdams, survived the drive, despite the semi tractor-trailer bursting into flames.
He is being held without bond at Limestone County Jail and faces several felony charges: two counts of Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Injury, one count of Driving Under the Influence, and one count of Murder.
Since the tragic wreck, the family of William Hardrick has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the truck driver and the trucking company employing him, South Paw Transport, LLC, which is based in Alabama.
“The civil complaint includes five counts against the defendants: wrongful death, negligence/wantonness, negligent/wanton hiring and supervision, negligent/wanton entrustment, and combined and concurrent negligence. The lawsuit seeks punitive damages to be determined by a jury,” a FOX54 News article reported. It went on to report that “… the complaint claims that South Paw Transport failed in its duty to properly hire, train, and supervise its drivers and negligently entrusted its tractor-trailer to McAdams.”
Though Craig, Kelley & Faultless is not involved in this lawsuit, the firm has represented many victims of impaired truck drivers in the past three decades. Trucking companies and their drivers must be held accountable for their negligence.
In some cases, drunk truckers cause wrecks resulting in property damage or minor injuries. In others, they kill innocent children and adults.
These wrecks are not acceptable. It is never acceptable for a commercial motor vehicle driver to operate a heavy truck with alcohol in his system.
I Was Hit by an Impaired Truck Driver. What Now?
As data has shown, the issue of alcohol-impaired truck drivers is not going away. In fact, it is getting worse.
If you have been struck by a negligent semi-truck driver, help is available. You may be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries. Often, crashes involving semi-trucks, dump trucks, box trucks or other commercial motor vehicles are catastrophic.
Broken bones, burns, paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, fractures and other injuries are significant and should receive medical treatment. A qualified truck accident attorney can help you receive compensation for these medical bills, as well as for pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.
Craig, Kelley & Faultless has 10 experienced attorneys, two of whom are board-certified in truck accident law — a qualification currently held by only four lawyers in the state of Indiana.
The firm represents clients across the United States. It has lawyers licensed to practice in various states, including Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois and Tennessee.
Contact Craig, Kelley & Faultless for a free case consultation today at (800) 746-0226 or with the online form.
David W. Craig is a nationally recognized truck accident lawyer who sits on the Board of Regents of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys. He is board certified in Truck Accident Law. He is the managing partner and one of the founding partners of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. He is recognized as a Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyer and Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Indiana by the National Trial Lawyers, as well as a Top 50 Indiana lawyer by Super Lawyers. He was the recipient of the National Thurgood Marshall “Fighting for Justice” Award for his work helping victims of truck wrecks. David is the author of Semitruck Wreck, A Guide for Victims and Their Families, written to help people navigate a terrible situation by answering questions that come after a tragic wreck. He also hosts the podcast After the Crash, where you can gain valuable information about the dangers involving semis and large trucks that do not follow Indiana law safety protocol regarding speed, weather conditions, maintenance upkeep, etc.
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