The High Costs of Low-Speed Collisions

Even a minor bump can have a significant financial impact. Hitting fixed objects or parked vehicles is one of the top preventable losses in trucking and one of the fastest ways to damage a CDL, CSA, and reputation. We all know that sometimes backing can be the most challenging part of the day. Getting out to walk the site can be instrumental in resetting your focus and identifying things you may not see otherwise.

What a Low-Speed Accident Really Costs

Minor contact (bollard, fence, landscaping):

• $2,000–$5,000 in repairs
• 1–3 days of equipment downtime

Moderate damage (trailer, dock, parked vehicle):

• $10,000–$25,000
• Days or weeks of equipment downtime

Serious backing crash (building, significant vehicle damage, injury):

• $50,000–$150,000+
• Lawsuits, investigations

Even a “minor” accident can quietly cost a carrier $30k–$60k once insurance, downtime, and admin are factored in.

The Hidden Costs Drivers Feel Later

• Higher insurance premiums
• CSA / PSP hits
• Loss of preferred carriers or customers
• Retraining or disciplinary action
• Expensive downtime

Why Low-Speed Accidents Happen

• Tight yards and blind corners
• Poor visibility or weather
• Rushing, frustration, or fatigue
• Distraction
• Most backing accidents occur when experience has tipped into complacency

The Cheapest Safety Equipment You Have

• GOAL – Get Out and Look. Walk the site.
• Clear the way. Ask the customer to move some items if possible.
• Use your safety cones. Place a cone where you want the rear of the trailer to stop. For tank deliveries, leave about 10 feet or three large steps.
• Use a spotter when possible.
• Back only to the cone. If it leaves your field of sight, place the truck in neutral, set the parking brake, and get out to reassess.
• Walk the backing lane to regain a clear picture of the maneuver, then continue to your end cone or next obstacle.
• Back slow enough to stop instantly and reset if it doesn’t feel right.
• During nighttime or dark conditions, place a flashlight inside the cone for added visibility.
• Ignore pressure from docks, shippers, or bystanders.

Low-speed accidents may seem minor, but the consequences are not. There is no penalty for taking extra time. There is a penalty for hitting something.