Stoughton successfully completes 40 MPH rear impact guard crash test

Stoughton Trailers is proud to announce that it has successfully met the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) TOUGHGUARD® requirements at an elevated speed of 40 MPH, surpassing the 35-mph standard IIHS previously set for the van trailer industry.

The crash test was conducted on December 22 at an independent third-party testing facility operated by Calspan in Buffalo, New York. Calspan is a premier independent provider of testing and technology development services for the aerospace, defense, and automotive industries. The test followed all IIHS TOUGHGUARD protocols, for a 30% overlap rear impact. The company purposely chose the 30% overlap crash test as it is more challenging to pass than the straight-on, full width test and the 50% overlap test. Advanced simulation modeling confirms the Stoughton rear impact guard (RIG) passes the full width, 50% overlap and 30% overlap test requirements at the elevated speed of 40 MPH.

Stoughton Trailers was one of the first U.S. trailer manufacturers to receive an IIHS award for a rear impact guard, achieving TOUGHGUARD status in 2016 after passing the 30% overlap test at 35 mph. That achievement helped establish a new benchmark for trailer safety, prompting other manufacturers to develop rear impact guard designs capable of meeting the same 35 mph standard. By advancing rear impact protection in the industry, Stoughton has helped save lives and reduce the severity of injuries in rear-end collisions involving trailers.

The kinetic energy at 40 mph is approximately 31% greater than at 35 mph, underscoring the importance of trailer design and construction in mitigating crash severity at higher speeds. As documented in crash test imagery provided by Calspan, the 2014 Honda Accord test vehicle experienced no passenger-compartment intrusion during the impact. The Stoughton rear impact guard successfully absorbed the collision energy and helped protect the driver. Stoughton is also the first trailer manufacturer to receive an IIHS award for a chassis. In August 2025, the IIHS awarded TOUGHGUARD status to Stoughton’s 53-foot chassis.

“This successful 40 MPH test result shows Stoughton’s commitment to safety,” said IIHS President David Harkey. “Underride injuries and deaths are preventable, and we salute Stoughton for going above and beyond the minimum requirements. Through a shared commitment to safety with partners throughout our transportation system, we can achieve our 30X30 goal of a 30% reduction in road deaths by 2030.”

T“The proven rear impact guard is standard equipment on all Stoughton dry van and refrigerated trailers, reinforcing the company’s commitment to safety as a core product feature—not an option.” stated Scott Lubenow, VP of Engineering – Research & Development.