Fried Goldberg LLC Says Stronger Oversight And Enforcement Are Critical For Truck Crash Prevention
A new report from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) says federal transportation agencies still face major hurdles in keeping the nation’s roads safe, even as traffic fatalities trend downward.
Released January 6, 2026, the “DOT’s Fiscal Year 2026 Top Management Challenges” report focuses heavily on surface transportation safety and calls out persistent weaknesses in how DOT measures results, enforces regulations, and oversees state and federal safety programs that affect the trucking industry.
Attorneys at Fried Goldberg LLC, a national truck accident law firm based in Atlanta, say the findings show that incremental progress is not enough when thousands of lives are still lost each year on American highways.
“Seeing fatalities decline is encouraging, but the numbers are still far too high for anyone to feel comfortable,” attorney Michael Goldberg said. “When oversight programs are underperforming or under-enforced, dangerous conditions stay in place longer than they should, and families pay the cost.”
Progress Alongside Persistent Risk
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data cited in the report, motor vehicle traffic deaths fell about 9 percent between 2021 and 2024, from 43,230 to an estimated 39,345. The OIG notes that this is a positive direction, but stresses that DOT must do more to evaluate whether its initiatives are actually reducing serious crashes and injuries, especially in freight-heavy corridors where large trucks share the road with passenger vehicles.
The report also highlights concerns with the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program, which funds state commercial vehicle enforcement. OIG urged DOT to make sure states are truly prioritizing their Commercial Vehicle Safety Plans and tracking performance in a meaningful way, instead of treating federal grants as a paperwork exercise.
“For the families we represent, it isn’t enough to simply say there is a program on paper,” attorney Joe Fried said. “The real question is whether unsafe carriers, fatigued drivers, and recurring violations are being identified and stopped before another catastrophic truck accident happens.”
Enforcement, Data Quality, And Real-World Safety
For truckers and freight companies, the OIG also flagged ongoing challenges tied to safe parking, fatigue, and the need to make sure grant-funded projects actually deliver safer conditions on the ground.
The report credits steps such as FMCSA’s Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration rule and recent FRA improvements that closed many prior audit recommendations, but it also references cases where fraud and obstruction undermined safety investigations after fatal incidents.
Fried Goldberg LLC says those examples show why robust enforcement and transparent follow-through are essential.
“When an investigation is blocked, a grant is misused, or a safety program is allowed to drift without accountability, the ripple effects show up in real crashes, real injuries, and real losses,” Fried said. “Truck crash victims and their families deserve a system where data, funding, and enforcement all work together to reduce preventable tragedies, not just manage them after the fact.”
About Fried Goldberg LLC
Based in Atlanta and serving victims nationwide, Fried Goldberg LLC is one of the preeminent trucking accident law firms in the United States. The firm has recovered over $1 billion for its clients, including many 7- and 8-figure verdicts and settlements. For more information, visit www.friedgoldberg.com.
