Executive Summary
- Highest Fatality Rate: Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers recorded 798 fatal injuries in 2024, the highest of any listed occupation.
- Construction Sector Risks: Construction laborers ranked second with 334 deaths, while supervisors in the trade saw 105 fatalities.
- Public Service Figures: Law enforcement workers experienced 132 fatal occupational injuries according to the BLS data.
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers sustained the highest number of fatal occupational injuries among all job categories in 2024, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The report indicates that the commercial transportation sector continues to present significant safety hazards compared to other high-risk professions, with 798 confirmed fatalities recorded for the year.
According to the BLS figures, the number of deaths among truck drivers was more than double that of the next closest occupation. Construction laborers accounted for the second-highest fatality count with 334 deaths. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers followed with 175 fatal injuries, while law enforcement workers recorded 132 deaths during the same period.
The data further delineates risks across various manual labor and service sectors. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers saw 131 fatalities, while laborers and freight movers recorded 110. Other occupations with significant fatality numbers included first-line supervisors of construction trades (105) and roofers (104). The report also noted 99 deaths among tree trimmers and pruners, and 89 among carpenters.
Occupational Safety Oversight
The continued classification of heavy truck driving as the nation’s deadliest job highlights systemic challenges in transportation safety regulation and infrastructure management. These statistics serve as a critical metric for federal agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) when evaluating the effectiveness of hours-of-service mandates and vehicle maintenance standards. The data suggests that despite regulatory efforts, the convergence of high traffic density and commercial transport demands remains a primary driver of occupational mortality in the United States.
