Tempe, AZ truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Tempe: 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
13 of 1,058 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Tempe compares with Arizona
Tempe against Arizona and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Tempe stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Tempe | Arizona | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 49.0 | 35.9 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.9 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 63% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.10 | 0.19 | 0.49 | 47% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.3% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 19% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.0% | 3.2% | 6.2% | 100% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.5% | 22.6% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 1.8% | 5.3% | 13.8% | 67% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.6% | 42.1% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.2% | 30.0% | 24.8% | 39% below the state |
Tempe has lower values than Arizona for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above Arizona on crashes per 100k residents / yr and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Tempe: 0.0% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Arizona: 3.2%).
Overview
Police reported 1,058 crashes involving commercial trucks in Tempe since 2015: 116 people were injured and 19 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 4 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (9.7% of the year) and are lowest in November (7.1%).
November through March accounts for 42.6% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.1% in Arizona.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 8.8% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Arizona: 3.2%).
Where crashes happen
I-10 leads within 15 miles of Tempe with 22 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by SR-202 (14), SR-347 (8) and US-60 (8).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 13 crashes, 1.2% of the total, against 1.6% across Arizona.
Route planning tips for Tempe fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-10, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 28.5% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Arizona; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Tempe
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-10 | 22 |
| SR-202 | 14 |
| SR-347 | 8 |
| US-60 | 8 |
| Broadway Rd | 7 |
| 51st Ave | 6 |
| I-17 | 5 |
| Baseline Rd | 4 |
| SR-101 | 4 |
| SR-87 | 3 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Tempe) |
|---|---|
| Us-60 Noncard@M173 | 38 |
| I-10 Noncard@M154 | 38 |
| Sr-101@M053 | 32 |
| I-10 Noncard@M155 | 32 |
| Us-60 Noncard@M172 | 25 |
| I-10 Noncard@M158 | 18 |
| Sr-202 Noncard@M007 | 18 |
| Sr-101@M054 | 18 |
Tempe at a glance
| Population | 190,114 |
| Land area | 40.0 sq mi |
| Density | 4,755 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Tempe 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 | 3 | — | 32.6 |
| 2000s | 67 | +1948% | 37.1 |
| 2010s | 58 | -14% | 27.1 |
| 2020s | 74 | +27% | 47.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 3 a year in the 1990s and 74 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 31.5 a year in 2016–19 and 47.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Tempe
How many truck crashes happen in Tempe?
1,058 truck crashes have been reported in Tempe since 2015, with 19 deaths and 116 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Tempe?
I-10 had 22 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 15 miles of Tempe since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Tempe?
October has the most truck crashes in Tempe, 9.7% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Tempe?
13 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Tempe since 2015, 1.2% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Tempe compared with Arizona?
The yearly rate is 49.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Tempe, vs 35.9 for Arizona.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Tempe?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.