Maricopa County, AZ truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Maricopa County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
5.3 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Maricopa County compares with Arizona
Maricopa County against Arizona and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Maricopa County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Maricopa County | Arizona | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 27.6 | 35.9 | 49.7 | 23% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.6 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 31% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.15 | 0.19 | 0.49 | 21% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.2% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.1% | 3.2% | 6.2% | 98% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.8% | 22.6% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 2.8% | 5.3% | 13.8% | 47% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.4% | 42.1% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 25.1% | 30.0% | 24.8% | 16% below the state |
Maricopa County sits below Arizona on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Maricopa County: 0.1% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 3.2% in Arizona.
Overview
Police reported 15,004 crashes involving commercial trucks in Maricopa County since 2015: 2,437 people were injured and 530 were killed.
That averages about 4 truck crashes a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is March with 9.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is December at 7.6%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.4% of truck crashes, vs 42.1% for Arizona.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 7.2% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Arizona: 3.2%).
Where crashes happen
I-10 leads in Maricopa County with 62 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: US-60 (20), SR-101 (19) and I-17 (18).
Garbage & waste trucks
330 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.2% share (Arizona: 1.6%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in August (12% of them).
They recorded 5.3 deaths per 100 crashes, against 3.6 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Maricopa County fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along I-10; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at August schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Morning starts matter: 26.8% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Arizona.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Maricopa County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Maricopa County) |
|---|---|
| I-10 | 62 |
| US-60 | 20 |
| SR-101 | 19 |
| I-17 | 18 |
| SR-202 | 16 |
| SR-85 | 10 |
| Broadway Rd | 9 |
| SR-87 | 8 |
| 51st Ave | 7 |
| Baseline Rd | 6 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Maricopa County) |
|---|---|
| I-10 Noncard@M145 | 59 |
| I-10 Noncard@M141 | 57 |
| I-10 Noncard@M150 | 45 |
| I-10 Noncard@M132 | 44 |
| I-10 Noncard@M151 | 40 |
| I-10 Noncard@M140 | 38 |
| Us-60 Noncard@M173 | 38 |
| I-10 Noncard@M154 | 38 |
Maricopa County at a glance
| Population | 4,673,096 |
| Land area | 9,202.0 sq mi |
| Density | 508 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $92,570 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Maricopa County since the 1990s
Combines the FMCSA crash file (all reported truck crashes, real coverage from about 1990) with NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes involving a large truck, 1982–2024).
| Decade | Truck crashes / yr | Change | Fatal crashes / yr (FARS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 94 | — | 32.6 |
| 2000s | 940 | +904% | 37.1 |
| 2010s | 727 | -23% | 27.1 |
| 2020s | 1,149 | +58% | 47.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 94 to 1,149. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 31.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 47.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Maricopa County
ZIP codes in Maricopa County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Maricopa County
How many truck crashes happen in Maricopa County?
15,004 truck crashes have been reported in Maricopa County since 2015, with 530 deaths and 2,437 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Maricopa County?
Since 2015, I-10 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Maricopa County: 62.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Maricopa County?
Truck crashes in Maricopa County peak in March, with 9.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Maricopa County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 330 reported crashes in Maricopa County since 2015 (2.2% of truck crashes).
How does Maricopa County compare with Arizona for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 27.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Maricopa County, vs 35.9 for Arizona.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Maricopa County?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.