Stoughton Trailers Sets New Industry Standard for Rear Impact Safety

Stoughton Trailers has announced a major achievement in vehicle safety. The company recently met the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) TOUGHGUARD requirements at a test speed of 40 mph. This is a big deal because it goes well beyond the current industry standard of 35 mph. By passing this tougher test, Stoughton is proving that its trailers are some of the safest on the road today.

The Science of a High-Speed Crash

Moving from a 35 mph test to a 40 mph test might not sound like a big jump, but the physics tell a different story. At 40 mph, the kinetic energy (the force of the crash) is about 31% higher than at 35 mph.

To prove their trailers could handle this extra force, Stoughton took their equipment to the Calspan testing facility in Buffalo, New York. During the test, a 2014 Honda Accord was crashed into the back of a Stoughton trailer. The results were excellent: the car’s passenger area stayed completely intact, and the trailer’s “underride guard” absorbed the energy just like it was supposed to.

Passing the Toughest Test: The 30% Overlap

Not all crash tests are the same. The IIHS uses three different types of rear-impact tests:

1. Full-width: The car hits the center of the guard.

2. 50% overlap: Half of the car hits the guard.

3. 30% overlap: Only a small corner of the car hits the very edge of the guard.

The 30% overlap is considered the most difficult because the guard is usually weakest at the ends. Stoughton used advanced computer modeling to make sure their design could pass all three scenarios at the higher 40 mph speed. This ensures that even “off-center” crashes are survivable for people in passenger cars.

A Long History of Leading in Safety

This isn’t the first time Stoughton has led the way. Back in 2016, they were one of the first companies to earn the TOUGHGUARD award at 35 mph. More recently, in August 2025, they earned the same safety recognition for their 53-foot chassis.

Because safety is so important to the company, these high-strength rear impact guards are not an “extra” you have to pay for. They are standard equipment on every single dry van and refrigerated trailer that Stoughton builds. This means every fleet using Stoughton equipment is automatically getting this extra layer of protection for the public.

Why This Matters for Fleets

For trucking companies, having a TOUGHGUARD-certified trailer is about more than just a badge. It helps reduce the risk of a “life-altering” accident. By investing in better engineering, Stoughton helps protect the people driving behind their trailers, which can also help fleets reduce their insurance risks and improve their reputation for safety.

For more information on Stoughton’s safety innovations and the TOUGHGUARD program, visit www.stoughtontrailers.com.

Also read: Telematics Data: Your Small Fleet’s First-Year Safety Roadmap