Phoenix, AZ truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Phoenix: 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
5.7 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Phoenix compares with Arizona
Phoenix against Arizona and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Phoenix stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Phoenix | Arizona | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 34.0 | 35.9 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.0 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 42% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.11 | 0.19 | 0.49 | 42% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.5% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.0% | 3.2% | 6.2% | 99% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.9% | 22.6% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 2.9% | 5.3% | 13.8% | 44% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.7% | 42.1% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 25.2% | 30.0% | 24.8% | 16% below the state |
Phoenix has lower values than Arizona for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Phoenix: 1 in 40 garbage-truck share of crashes is 2.5%, against 1.6% for Arizona.
Overview
Since 2015, 6,614 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Phoenix. They injured 841 people and killed 197.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 2 truck crashes a day.
When crashes happen
The worst month is March with 9.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is December at 7.4%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.7% of truck crashes, against 42.1% across Arizona.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (7.3%).
Road surface: 0.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Arizona: 3.2%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 15 miles of Phoenix is I-10, with 22 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by SR-101 (15), I-17 (10) and SR-202 (10).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 165 crashes, 2.5% of the total, against 1.6% across Arizona.
Their busiest month is August, with 14% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 5.7 deaths per 100 crashes, against 3.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Phoenix fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Phoenix.
- Check whether your routes use I-10, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: August is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Phoenix.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 26.9% of truck crashes here, more than Arizona; adjust start times where you can.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Phoenix
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-10 | 22 |
| SR-101 | 15 |
| I-17 | 10 |
| SR-202 | 10 |
| 51st Ave | 7 |
| Baseline Rd | 4 |
| Broadway Rd | 4 |
| US-60 | 4 |
| 19th Ave | 3 |
| 43rd Ave | 3 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Phoenix) |
|---|---|
| I-10 Noncard@M145 | 59 |
| I-10 Noncard@M141 | 57 |
| I-10 Noncard@M150 | 45 |
| I-10 Noncard@M151 | 40 |
| I-10 Noncard@M140 | 38 |
| I-10 Noncard@M149 | 37 |
| Sr-202 Noncard@M001 | 35 |
| I-10 Noncard@M137 | 34 |
Phoenix at a glance
| Population | 1,673,164 |
| Land area | 518.3 sq mi |
| Density | 3,228 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Phoenix 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 | 42 | — | 32.6 |
| 2000s | 447 | +967% | 37.1 |
| 2010s | 348 | -22% | 27.1 |
| 2020s | 464 | +33% | 47.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 42 to 464. 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.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Phoenix
How common are truck crashes in Phoenix?
Since 2015, 6,614 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Phoenix (841 injured, 197 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Phoenix?
NHTSA data shows I-10 with 22 fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of Phoenix since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Phoenix?
March has the most truck crashes in Phoenix, 9.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Phoenix?
165 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Phoenix since 2015, 2.5% of all truck crashes.
How does Phoenix compare with Arizona for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Phoenix has 34.0 truck crashes a year; Arizona has 35.9.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Phoenix?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.