ARLINGTON, VA – The American Trucking Associations (ATA) says the latest U.S. data proves there was a significant drop in the fatality rate in road crashes involving large trucks in 2013.

The latest report shows the fatality rate dropped to 1.44 per 100 million miles traveled. That’s down 1.6% from the 1.465 per 100 million miles traveled in 2012, and down 39.2% over the past decade.

The injury rate also saw a significant drop – 34.2% – over the past decade.

ATA says the statistics prove that the trucking industry’s efforts to improve safety are showing results.

“While there is still much work to do, we should feel good that because of the efforts of ATA and others in the industry, our highways are safer, even as our trucks deliver more goods all across our nation,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves.

ATA calculated the fatality and injury rates using the figure for truck miles traveled – just over 275 billion miles in 2013 according to the Federal Highway Administration – and the number of truck-involved fatalities and injuries to calculate the rates.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry, with 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils.