Alameda County, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Alameda 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
2.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.9 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Alameda County compares with California
Alameda County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Alameda County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Alameda County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 34.0 | 33.2 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.9 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 47% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.41 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.3% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 20% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.1% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 84% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.5% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 6.5% | 6.5% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.4% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 25.9% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 11% below the state |
Alameda County sits below California on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above California on morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Alameda County: 0.1% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 0.9% across California.
Overview
Alameda County has recorded 6,377 truck crashes since 2015, with 2,661 people injured and 121 killed.
That averages about 2 truck crashes a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (9.3% of the year) and are lowest in November (7.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.4% of truck crashes, vs 40.2% for California.
More truck crashes happen at 11 am–12 pm than at any other hour (6.7%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.1% of truck crashes, compared with 0.9% in California.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Alameda County is I-880, with 16 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come I-580 (12), I-680 (8) and I-80 (8).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 82 crashes, 1.3% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
Their busiest month is February, with 11% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.5, vs 1.9 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Alameda County fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Alameda County.
- Look at alternatives to I-880 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at February schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Morning starts matter: 25.5% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than California.
- 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 Alameda County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Alameda County) |
|---|---|
| I-880 | 16 |
| I-580 | 12 |
| I-680 | 8 |
| I-80 | 8 |
| SR-238 | 3 |
| SR-84 | 3 |
| SR-92 | 3 |
| Boyce Rd | 2 |
| Fremont Bl | 2 |
| 5th Street | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Alameda County) |
|---|---|
| I-580 | 55 |
| I-680 | 26 |
| I-880 | 22 |
| 7Th St/Frontage Rd | 9 |
| Rt680/.5M N Sheridan Rd | 8 |
| Rt580/1M W North Flynn Rd | 7 |
| Rt580/1M W Grant Line Rd | 5 |
| Rt580/.5M E Schaefer Ranch Rd | 5 |
Alameda County at a glance
| Population | 1,649,060 |
| Land area | 737.5 sq mi |
| Density | 2,236 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $137,305 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Alameda 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 | — | — | 9.8 |
| 2000s | 363 | — | 8.9 |
| 2010s | 506 | +39% | 6.9 |
| 2020s | 520 | +3% | 6.6 |
In the 2000s about 363 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 520. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 8.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 6.6 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Alameda County
ZIP codes in Alameda County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Alameda County
How common are truck crashes in Alameda County?
Since 2015, 6,377 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Alameda County (2,661 injured, 121 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Alameda County?
NHTSA data shows I-880 with 16 fatal large-truck crashes in Alameda County since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Alameda County?
The worst month is August: 9.3% of truck crashes in Alameda County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Alameda County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 82 reported crashes in Alameda County since 2015 (1.3% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Alameda County compared with California?
Per 100,000 residents, Alameda County has 34.0 truck crashes a year; California has 33.2.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Alameda County?
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.