Stretching from Laredo at the border to the Red River and beyond, Interstate 35 is Texas’s north–south freight backbone. It stitches together the Texas Triangle’s biggest markets—San Antonio, Austin, Waco, and the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex—while funneling cross-border goods from Mexico into the U.S. economy. That concentration of heavy trucks, work zones, tricky weather, and tight urban segments helps explain why Texas truck rollover I-35 incidents are drawing more attention from safety advocates and insurers alike.
I-35’s freight surge—and why it matters for rollovers
I-35 isn’t just busy; it’s essential. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) highlights that the corridor carries an enormous share of the state’s freight and includes many of Texas’s most congested roadway segments. Since 2015, TxDOT reports 111 I-35 projects completed to combat congestion, with billions invested—evidence of just how vital (and strained) the corridor has become.
Freight volumes continue to climb. A TxDOT corridor brief underscores the corridor’s role in moving high-value freight tied to trade with Mexico, with a majority of truck trade value crossing at Laredo/Eagle Pass before feeding directly onto I-35. As cross-border commerce grows, so does heavy-truck exposure in the Austin–San Antonio “mega-region.”
Congestion amplifies the rollover problem. The Texas A&M Transportation Institute has repeatedly ranked downtown Austin’s I-35 among the state’s worst choke points for truckers—hundreds of thousands of truck-hours lost each year at the height of the pandemic era—creating stop-and-go shockwaves, weaving, and sudden braking near tight ramps and connectors where rollovers are common.
Recent trends and data: tractor-trailer crash statistics in TX
Texas has led the nation in deadly large-truck crashes in recent years, according to federal and media summaries of NHTSA/FARS data—an outcome that aligns with the state’s outsized freight role. Nationally, 5,936 people were killed in large-truck crashes in 2022; 70% were occupants of other vehicles. Texas historically accounts for a significant share of those losses.
TxDOT’s annual crash reporting confirms both the scale and the persistent risks on Texas roads. The department publishes statewide and county-level crash facts, including commercial motor vehicle (CMV) involvement and work-zone crashes, which are particularly relevant along I-35 given ongoing construction.
Freight growth compounds exposure on I-35. TRIP’s Texas freight snapshot notes the state moved 3.4 billion tons valued at $3.1 trillion in 2022, with truck freight projected to surge by 2050; heavier truck activity translates to more opportunity for high-energy incidents like rollovers if other risks aren’t controlled.
Why Rollovers Are Rising on I-35: A Perfect Storm of Risks
Several factors combine to make rollover crashes more common along Texas’s busy I-35 corridor:
1) Sharp curves and exit ramps. Many rollovers happen when trucks take curves, ramps, or flyovers too fast. Tractor-trailers have a high center of gravity, which means they can tip more easily if a driver doesn’t slow down enough before a turn.
2) Shifting cargo. What’s inside the trailer matters. Tankers carrying liquids can “slosh,” and loads stacked high can shift during sudden movements. If the weight inside the truck shifts while the vehicle is turning, it makes tipping far more likely.
3) Strong winds and bad weather. Texas is known for sudden spring storms, especially in the Hill Country and North Texas. Wind gusts of 40 miles per hour or more can push a tall truck sideways, especially on bridges and elevated stretches of I-35. Even one strong gust can cause a trailer to overturn if the driver isn’t prepared.
4) Construction zones. Ongoing roadwork, like the massive NEX project in San Antonio, often narrows lanes and forces trucks through uneven or temporary road alignments. If a trailer’s wheels clip a barrier or drop onto the shoulder while braking or turning, a rollover can happen quickly.
5) Heavy traffic and congestion. I-35 is one of the most congested highways in Texas, with nearly 20 of the state’s top 100 traffic hot spots located along the corridor. Stop-and-go traffic, sudden lane changes, and crowded conditions leave little room for error. For trucks, one wrong move in tight traffic can set off a chain reaction that ends in a rollover.
Legal rights of victims in Texas rollover crashes (I-35 focus)
If you or someone you love is hurt in a tractor-trailer rollover on I-35, you have options under Texas law:
- Personal injury claims for medical bills, future care, lost wages/earning capacity, property damage, and pain and suffering.
- Wrongful death claims for funeral costs and loss of companionship/financial contribution.
- Punitive damages may be available in cases of gross negligence (e.g., egregious speeding, hours-of-service violations, intoxication).
- Multiple liable parties: Beyond the driver, liability may extend to the motor carrier, a shipper/loader (improper securement or weight distribution), a maintenance contractor, or even a construction contractor if unsafe work-zone set-ups contributed.
- Evidence to preserve quickly: dashcam/ECM (“black box”) data, driver qualification and hours-of-service logs, dispatch texts, weigh tickets, bills of lading, pre-trip inspection records, and work-zone traffic control plans.
Practical safety tips for drivers and fleets along I-35
For truck drivers and carriers:
- Slow for curves, ramps, and flyovers—postings are for passenger vehicles; tankers/high-CG loads often require materially lower speeds.
- Respect wind advisories: When sustained winds/gust thresholds are met, reduce speed, increase following distance, and consider staging until conditions improve—particularly on bridges and elevated NEX segments.
- Mind the load: Verify securement; adjust for slosh with partial liquid loads; re-check after stops. Industry guidance shows dynamic loads dramatically hike rollover risk on curves.
- Work-zone discipline: Obey reduced limits and taper warnings; expect sudden merges and uneven pavement.
- Manage speed overall: Speeding remains the leading factor in Texas roadway deaths; carriers should enforce slow-down policies during Operation Slowdown periods and beyond.
For passenger-vehicle drivers sharing I-35
- Give trucks space on curves and in work zones; never linger beside a trailer where load-shift or gusts can push it sideways.
- Watch for construction transitions around San Antonio’s NEX, downtown Austin, and Waco; plan alternate routes (Loop 1604/410, SH-130, Loop 1) when possible.
- In high winds or severe storms, reduce speed, increase following distance, and avoid passing trucks on exposed bridges (e.g., over the Brazos in Waco or Lady Bird Lake in Austin).
Technology and Policy Measures to Reduce Rollovers
Beyond driver choices and weather risks, technology and policy are shaping the fight against rollover crashes along I-35. Fleet safety programs and government initiatives are working together to curb the surge in heavy-truck incidents.
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC): FMCSA research shows ESC can reduce truck rollovers by automatically braking individual wheels when it detects a loss of traction. Many new tractors are now equipped with ESC, and carriers are retrofitting older fleets to improve safety.
- Telematics and Driver Monitoring: Carriers increasingly use in-cab sensors, GPS speed monitoring, and driver scorecards to identify risky behavior like sharp cornering, hard braking, or excessive ramp speeds. This data can be used for coaching and accountability.
- Infrastructure Upgrades: TxDOT continues widening I-35, redesigning interchange ramps, and improving signage near sharp curves. The NEX Central project in San Antonio includes new elevated lanes and straighter geometry to ease truck navigation and reduce rollover exposure.
- Policy Enforcement: Texas law enforcement agencies actively run targeted enforcement periods such as “Operation Slowdown” campaigns, ticketing speeders and monitoring unsafe lane changes. CMV enforcement teams also inspect weight distribution, securement, and logbook compliance to address root causes of rollovers.
- Weather Advisory Integration: NWS alerts for high winds now integrate with fleet dispatch software, allowing carriers to proactively reroute or delay loads when gust conditions exceed safe thresholds for high-profile rigs.
Together, these measures highlight that preventing Texas truck rollover I-35 crashes requires both technology and human vigilance. Carriers, drivers, and state agencies must coordinate to ensure safer freight movement across one of America’s busiest trucking corridors.
Local Accident Reports
Rollover truck crashes are devastating—and often preventable—events that can change lives in an instant along Texas’s I-35 corridor. Understanding your legal rights and seeking experienced counsel is essential to securing justice and financial recovery after a tractor-trailer crash. For all road users, the message is simple: slowing down, respecting weather and work-zones, and planning safer routes are moral obligations that protect everyone on the roadway.
Don’t hesitate to seek legal assistance if you or a loved one has been affected by a rollover truck accident. A nationwide truck accident lawyer from Local Accident Reports can help you navigate the complexities of the legal system and fight for the compensation you deserve. Remember, the road to recovery begins with taking the right steps toward accountability and justice. Call us at (888) 657-1460 to schedule your free consultation.
