How Safe Are U-Haul Trucks and Trailers?
U-Haul International, Inc., which is based in Phoenix, Arizona, has long contended that its fleet of over 200,000 vehicles is safe and well maintained, claiming that it invests heavily to modernize its fleet, and spends about 20 percent of its rental revenue on repairs and maintenance. Some of the company’s representatives have also reported that U-Haul’s truck accident rate is about the same as that of a federal estimate for all passenger vehicles, and that the rate for its trailers is even lower. These claims cannot be independently verified, and there are no government agencies that collect rental equipment accident data. An LA Times yearlong investigation, however, found that many of U-Haul’s trucks had high mileage and that safety checks were often overdue. Following are some key findings of the investigation, which were reported last year in June. • A survey of over 200 U-Haul trucks and trailers found that more than half were overdue for their “safety certification,” a check of
