Following a series of noticeable tractor-trailer crashes in Vermont, officials are offering clarity on the state of highway safety and commercial vehicle operations.

The discussion was prompted by a WCAX viewer named Moe, who expressed concern about what seemed like an increase in semi-truck accidents this year. One such incident occurred Monday on I-9 in Derby, where a tractor-trailer crashed due to an axle failure. The driver sustained minor injuries.

Another recent crash, on I-89 in Bolton last week, involved a tractor-trailer that ended up blocking both northbound and southbound lanes. According to officials with the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans), the cause was driver error — specifically, the operator was cited for being ill or fatigued while driving.

Despite these incidents, state officials emphasize that Vermont is seeing improvements in overall commercial vehicle safety. According to data from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV):

• Commercial motor vehicle crashes were down 12% last year compared to the year prior.

• Fatalities dropped 40% over the same period.

• Roadside inspections increased by 41%, totaling nearly 9,000 commercial vehicles checked.

Officials believe the increased inspection efforts have played a major role in reducing both accidents and fatalities. While high-profile crashes may draw public concern, they say these incidents are not reflective of a broader upward trend in crash rates.