Major Truck Losses Fall, but Human Factors Still Shape Insurance Risk

The 2026 NTARC Major Incident Investigation Report, produced through the NTI, Monash University Accident Research Centre and National Road Safety Partnership Program collaboration, analysed 1,374 major-loss claims from 2025. These are substantial incidents above the reports major-loss threshold, so they are particularly relevant to commercial motor insurers and transport businesses trying to understand the events that drive severe claims costs.

The encouraging part is that major-loss claim numbers were reported as down 22.3 per cent compared with 2024, while inattention and distraction-related incidents also fell sharply. That matters because distraction has been one of the most stubborn risks in heavy vehicle operations. However, the report still found human factors accounted for more than half of all incidents, with inattention or distraction, inappropriate speed and inadequate following distance remaining the leading behavioural contributors.

For owner drivers and fleet operators, this should be read as a renewal-season prompt rather than a reason to relax. A lower incident count may help the broader market narrative, but individual pricing and terms still depend heavily on the risk profile presented to the insurer or broker. A business that can show consistent driver induction, fatigue controls, telematics review, maintenance records and incident follow-up is usually in a stronger position than one relying on a clean recent claims year alone.

The report also reinforces why claim files are becoming more evidence-driven. After a serious incident, insurers may look at trip planning, vehicle condition, dashcam or telematics data, driver statements, load information and maintenance history. Good claim preparation starts before a crash occurs, because the records needed to explain what happened are often created during ordinary operations.

There are limitations. NTARCs work is based on NTI major-loss claims data, not every heavy vehicle incident in Australia, and some smaller losses or uninsured exposures sit outside the picture. Even so, the findings are useful because they show where severe losses are clustering. For truck operators, the message is practical: safety investment, driver monitoring and disciplined records are not just compliance habits. They are part of the evidence base that can influence insurance conversations when cover is placed, renewed or tested by a claim.