Safety Group Tested Commercial Vans and Trucks
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety assessed 11 commercial vehicles for crash prevention performance.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Trucks
Live Poll
Should commercial delivery vans and work trucks be subject to stricter safety requirements?
In June 2026, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety began first-of-its-kind safety tests for commercial cargo vans and Class 3 pickup trucks at its center in Ruckersville, Virginia. The testing revealed poor performance across most evaluated models in vehicle-to-vehicle collision scenarios.
Why it matters
Government safety standards for commercial vehicles are significantly fewer than those for passenger cars. The Institute conducts these evaluations to pressure manufacturers to adopt advanced safety technology.
The Institute evaluated 11 commercial vehicles, which represent a segment involved in 16% of all 2024 U.S. roadway fatalities. Tests focused on front and side airbags, seat belt technology, and automatic emergency braking.
The players
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
This independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organization is dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries, and property damage from motor vehicle crashes.
Rivian
This American electric vehicle manufacturer and automotive technology company produces the RCV-Delivery 500 cargo van.
Mercedes-Benz
This global automotive manufacturer produces the Sprinter 2500 commercial van.
Chevrolet
This division of General Motors manufactures the Express 2500 line of commercial cargo vans.
GMC
This automotive brand of General Motors focuses on trucks and utility vehicles, including the Savana 2500.
The details
Several vehicles failed to issue warnings or slow down during motorcycle collision simulations, and tall front ends often obscure child-sized dummies from driver sight lines. While the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 earned a Good rating for front crash prevention, other models like the Chevrolet Express 2500 received Poor ratings for missing automatic braking.
Timeline
In 2024, 6,215 people died in crashes involving commercial cargo vans and work trucks.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety began work vehicle assessments in June 2026.
The evaluation results were published on October 8, 2026.
The Institute plans to finish its ongoing Class 3 vehicle evaluations by 2027.
Roadmap
These tests mark a departure from the historical focus on passenger cars, expanding safety scrutiny to the commercial sector. This shift signals a long-term industry push to reconcile commercial truck performance with evolving consumer safety expectations.
Drivers and fleet operators should prioritize models with proven automatic emergency braking systems to improve road safety. These test results serve as a guide for buyers who are comparing vehicle safety ratings beyond standard federal requirements.
The takeaway
Commercial vehicle operators and buyers should prioritize safety features like automatic emergency braking that are currently lacking in some popular cargo models. Always check the latest independent ratings before finalizing fleet purchases to ensure compliance with modern safety benchmarks.
What happens next
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety will continue its Class 3 vehicle evaluations through 2027 and plans to begin testing larger Class 4 to 6 trucks in future phases.
Further reading
For more on industry standards, visit the /automotive/trucks/ section.
Live Poll
Should commercial delivery vans and work trucks be subject to stricter safety requirements?
