A recent survey from Nationwide highlights mounting pressure on commercial drivers as roadway behavior becomes increasingly unpredictable and risky.
The findings point to rising distraction, aggression and unsafe driving across U.S. roads, which creates a more stressful operating environment for professional drivers who already spend long hours behind the wheel.
Commercial drivers reported significant increases in risky behavior compared to prior-year benchmarks. Distracted driving rose by 10 percentage points to 77%, while reckless driving climbed to 73%. Unsafe driving around larger commercial vehicles also increased sharply by 15 points to 74%, underscoring heightened exposure for fleet operators and long-haul drivers.
These shifts are directly affecting driver well-being and operational risk. Nearly half of commercial drivers (47%) said they feel stressed, exhausted and frustrated while driving for work, and 60% worry that aggressive drivers could contribute to an accident. One quarter also admitted they are at least sometimes distracted while operating a vehicle, highlighting that risk is present across all driver categories.
"Driving no longer feels as predictable or routine as it once did," Mark McGhiey, Commercial Risk Management Leader at Nationwide said in a press release. "Many describe a road environment with more distractions, more tension and less trust in the people around them."
At the same time, commercial vehicle insureds are increasingly turning to technology and training to manage rising risk. Ken Andersen, Nationwide's risk management technical director for business automobile insurance, noted that fleets are investing heavily in preventive tools as profitability pressures persist across the segment.
The big picture
"The commercial auto segment continues to struggle with generating a profit, posting an approximate $5 billion net underwriting loss in both 2023 and 2024," Andersen said, according to BestWire reporting. "It's hard to control the cost of a claim once it happens," he added, explaining why fleets are prioritizing loss prevention strategies.
Technology adoption is showing measurable impact. Nationwide data indicates that telematics and AI-enabled dash cams can reduce commercial auto loss ratios by at least 30% when policyholders use the tools to monitor and coach drivers. In addition, built-in accident-avoidance systems are helping reduce rear-end collisions by 40% to 50%, according to Andersen.
Despite these improvements, structural headwinds remain. Litigation pressures, rising claims severity and increasing catastrophe losses tied to hail and flood events continue to constrain profitability gains in the commercial auto segment.
Taken together, the findings illustrate a dual reality for commercial transportation: Worsening roadway behavior is elevating day-to-day risk, while fleets simultaneously accelerate investments in technology and training to offset losses and improve safety outcomes.
Maura Keller is a Minnesota-based freelance writer and editor.
(Featured image credit: phoenix021/Adobe Stock)
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