California truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in California: 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
3.8 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How California compares with United States
California against United States, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where California stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | California | United States | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 33.2 | 49.7 | 33% below the US |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.6 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.44 | 0.49 | 10% below the US |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 2.3% | 30% below the US |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.9% | 6.2% | 85% below the US |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 6.5% | 13.8% | 53% below the US |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 29.1% | 24.8% | 1.2× the US |
Compared with the US, California is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher after dark.
What stands out in California: 0.9% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 6.2% in the US.
Overview
California has recorded 150,232 truck crashes since 2015, with 67,128 people injured and 5,324 killed.
That averages about 36 truck crashes a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 9.4% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (7.6%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.2% of truck crashes, vs 41.9% for the US.
By time of day, 7–8 am stands out with 6.3% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.9% of truck crashes, compared with 6.2% in the US.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in California is I-5, with 288 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: SR-99 (173), I-15 (129) and US-101 (129).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2,458 crashes, 1.6% of the total, against 2.3% across the US.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in March (9%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 3.8, vs 3.6 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for California fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in California.
- Check whether your routes use I-5, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in March; review collection routes for that month.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 California
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in California) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 288 |
| SR-99 | 173 |
| I-15 | 129 |
| US-101 | 129 |
| I-10 | 125 |
| I-80 | 65 |
| SR-60 | 49 |
| SR-58 | 46 |
| US-395 | 41 |
| SR-4 | 40 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (California) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 284 |
| Sr-99 N/B | 144 |
| I-15 | 132 |
| SR-99 | 130 |
| Sr-99 S/B | 115 |
| US-101 | 108 |
| SR-91 | 83 |
| I-10 | 82 |
California at a glance
| Population | 39,431,263 |
| Land area | 155,859.2 sq mi |
| Density | 253 per sq mi |
Historical data: truck crashes in California 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 | 3,403 | — | 348.5 |
| 2000s | 9,878 | +190% | 329.4 |
| 2010s | 11,399 | +15% | 290.7 |
| 2020s | 13,204 | +16% | 385.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 3,403 a year in the 1990s and 13,204 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 347.8 a year in 2016–19, 385.2 a year in 2020–24.
Counties in California
Largest places in California
Nearby states
Questions fleets ask about California
How common are truck crashes in California?
150,232 truck crashes have been reported in California since 2015, with 5,324 deaths and 67,128 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in California?
Since 2015, I-5 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in California: 288.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in California?
Truck crashes in California peak in August, with 9.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in California?
Since 2015, California has reported 2,458 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.6% of its truck crashes.
How does California compare with the US for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 33.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in California, vs 49.7 for the US.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in California?
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.