Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Commercial Vehicle Safety Ratings to Launch in the U.S.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has announced the launch of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety commercial vehicle safety ratings aimed at addressing a major gap in road safety oversight for work vehicles. The new program will initially evaluate cargo vans and Class 3 pickup trucks operating in the United States. These vehicles are widely used across logistics, construction, and service industries but have historically received far less regulatory scrutiny than passenger cars despite their significant involvement in serious roadway incidents.

Safety Gap in Commercial Vehicle Regulations

Unlike passenger vehicles, many commercial vehicles are not required to include essential safety technologies such as airbags or automatic emergency braking under current federal regulations. Yet medium- and heavy-duty trucks, as well as light commercial vans, account for roughly 16 percent of roadway fatalities in the United States. Safety researchers have long argued that the absence of standardized crash protection requirements leaves drivers and passengers in these vehicles more vulnerable during collisions.

Initial Ratings Focus on Cargo Vans and Class 3 Pickups

The institute plans to release its first occupant protection evaluations in spring, focusing on cargo vans and Class 3 pickup trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating between 10,001 and 14,000 pounds. These ratings will assess whether vehicles include protective technologies such as advanced seat belts and airbags. Testing programs will also analyze crash avoidance capabilities on controlled tracks, with additional performance results expected later in 2026 as the evaluation program expands.

Future Testing and Underride Protection Improvements

Beyond the initial vehicle categories, the safety organization intends to broaden its research to include box trucks and potentially tractor-trailers in future phases. The group is also preparing new assessments of side underride guards on semitrailers. These guards can prevent smaller vehicles from sliding underneath trucks during side impacts. Building on its Toughguard award program introduced in 2017 for rear underride protection, researchers estimate that wider adoption of side guards could prevent more than 300 fatalities each year.