“What’s really disappointing is to see such an aggressive action by the plaintiffs’ bar, and plaintiffs’ industry, coming after truckers,” Guillot says. (DRIVEN via YouTube)
March 12, 2026 1:15 PM, EDT
Key Takeaways:
- ATA released the fourth episode of its “Driven” documentary series on March 5 highlighting staged truck accidents and industry efforts to combat related fraud.
- The episode underscores how lawsuit abuse and staged crash schemes have driven up insurance costs, with trucking auto liability premiums rising 36% per mile in the eight years before 2025.
- A related federal fraud trial began March 4 and lawmakers are considering legislation to make engineering a crash with a commercial motor vehicle a federal crime.
American Trucking Associations put the spotlight on staged truck accidents as part of its documentary series highlighting industry stories.
The Nothing Without Trucking campaign aims to educate the public about trucking through original storytelling. It includes a documentary series called “Driven,” with the fourth episode focused on staged accidents released March 5. Triple G Express President Randy Guillot is featured for his efforts to fight back when criminals targeted his drivers.
“The first three episodes focused on career opportunities in the trucking industry,” said Jeremy Kirkpatrick, vice president of public affairs and strategic communications at ATA. “In this fourth episode, Jackpot Justice, we zeroed in on one of the biggest issues facing motor carriers today: lawsuit abuse.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation eventually brought an end to the criminal ring behind the accidents as part of its yearslong Operation Sideswipe. Investigators uncovered a massive fraud scheme involving staged accidents with heavy-duty trucks, with the goal of filing false injury claims, fraudulent lawsuits and insurance payouts.
“It’s a difficult industry that we’re in,” Guillot said in the episode. “What’s really disappointing is to see such an aggressive action by the plaintiffs’ bar, and plaintiffs’ industry, coming after truckers.”
(DRIVEN via YouTube)
The episode revealed that the incident was part of a sophisticated criminal conspiracy with national reach. The aim is to bring more public attention to how the broader climate of lawsuit abuse affects businesses, innocent victims and insurance costs.
“Operation Sideswipe is a vivid example of what happens when civil justice is perverted into a system that puts profits over truth and fairness,” Kirkpatrick said. “What in the world could motivate lawyers to conspire with criminals to stage accidents with large commercial vehicles? The answer is a court system that too often has been transformed into a profit center for the plaintiffs’ bar rather than a fair forum for determining fault.”
U.S. District Judge Wendy Vitter is overseeing a related federal fraud trial centered on two attorneys alleged to have orchestrated and recruited people into a staged wreck scheme in Louisiana. The opening statements in the case were heard March 4. Kirkpatrick noted that the case is especially relevant given the state’s strong congressional delegation.
“Legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House that would make it a federal crime to engineer a crash with a commercial motor vehicle, and we are looking for a champion in the Senate to introduce a companion bill,” Kirkpatrick said. “As for the digital campaign, ads promoting the documentary will be running in Louisiana and Capitol Hill.”
Patrick Brennan of Cox Fleet talks about the common missteps that fleets make in planning for future maintenance and operational needs. Tune in above or by going to RoadSigns.ttnews.com.
Protecting American Consumers Together said the case underscores why meaningful lawsuit abuse reform is urgently needed. The association views the trial as a pivotal moment in holding those responsible accountable for these schemes.
“The broader story goes far beyond one courtroom,” PACT said in a statement. “At its core, this is not just a local legal drama, this is a wake-up call for policymakers, consumers and everyday drivers. Staged crash schemes impact every motorist who pays insurance premiums.”
The American Transportation Research Institute found trucking auto liability premiums increased 36% per mile in the eight years before 2025. The report identified insurance availability and lawsuit abuse as primary contributors to rising insurance costs. The 2025 ATRI Top Industry Issues report identified lawsuit abuse as the second-most important issue for the trucking industry, right behind the economy.
“This wave of lawsuit abuse makes everything less affordable,” Kirkpatrick said. “When civil litigation gets perverted into a game of jackpot justice, everyone pays the price.”
ATA also launched a new website, StopLawsuitAbuse.info, as a digital resource on the issue Feb. 2. The website is designed to educate policymakers, the media and the public about the growing problem of lawsuit abuse and its damaging effects on the trucking industry.
