ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. government needs to research and evaluate standards for crashworthiness for heavy trucks the American Trucking Associations and the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association said in a joint statement.

Specifically, ATA and OOIDA highlighted the need for improving cab structure and occupant restraints such as safety belts and airbags, strengthening windshields and doors to prevent occupant ejections, and installing "more forgiving interior surfaces," such as an energy absorbing steering column and padded interior surfaces.

“NHTSA has continuously developed crashworthiness standards for automobiles and light trucks, but to date has generally not applied crashworthiness standards to commercial trucks,” the groups wrote in a June 6 letter to David Strickland, head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “We believe there may be opportunities to enhance the survivability of professional truck drivers if appropriate, research-based, uniform standards are developed.”

In the letter, ATA noted that truck rollover crashes represent the most severe of the various types of truck crashes accounting for approximately 63 percent of fatal injuries to truck occupants.

"The highest priority in any crash, and particularly in rollover type crashes is retention of the occupant in the cab along with maintaining sufficient survival space," wrote ATA, adding that if cab structural integrity can be improved sufficiently it could lead to a 23-percent reduction in fatalities during rollovers.

"We’re proud to stand with OOIDA in calling on the federal government to take these important first steps that will reduce injuries and fatalities among America’s professional truck drivers.”

Added Todd Spencer, OOIDA executive VP: "The most valuable, even most precious, cargo truckers haul is themselves and it’s time that our standards reflect that value.”