The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced it will release occupant protection ratings for cargo vans and Class 3 commercial pickup trucks — including the chassis-cab platforms commonly used for tow trucks — beginning this spring, according to The Drive. The IIHS said it will evaluate airbags, advanced seatbelts, and other occupant protection features in vehicles with gross vehicle weight ratings between 10,001 and 14,000 pounds. The institute noted that 6,535 people died in crashes involving commercial work vehicles in 2023. Crash avoidance ratings will follow later, and the IIHS says it plans to expand testing to box trucks and possibly Class 8 semis in future cycles.
Operator takeaway
When safety ratings for chassis cabs are public, fleet insurance underwriters will use them — check whether the F-Series or similar platform you spec for new builds carries the ratings your insurer will eventually ask about.