Berkeley, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Berkeley: 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
11 of 236 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Berkeley compares with California
Berkeley against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Berkeley stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Berkeley | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 17.2 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 48% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.6 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 28% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.35 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 20% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.8% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 2.9× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.0% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 100% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.2% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 10% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.0% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 1.5× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.3% | 40.2% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 25.5% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 12% below the state |
Compared with California, Berkeley is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar).
The headline for Berkeley: 1 in 21 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 4.8%, vs 1.6% in California.
Overview
Police reported 236 crashes involving commercial trucks in Berkeley since 2015: 83 people were injured and 6 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 17 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is July with 10.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 5.9%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.3% of truck crashes, against 40.2% across California.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (8.1%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.0% of truck crashes, compared with 0.9% in California.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 15 miles of Berkeley is I-80, with 24 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by I-880 (10), I-680 (4) and US-101 (4).
Garbage & waste trucks
11 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 4.7% share (California: 1.6%).
Route planning tips for Berkeley fleets
- Review driver schedules for July, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along I-80; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Berkeley
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 24 |
| I-880 | 10 |
| I-680 | 4 |
| US-101 | 4 |
| I-580 | 2 |
| 16th St | 1 |
| 28th St | 1 |
| 3rd St | 1 |
| 5th Street | 1 |
| 7th St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Berkeley) |
|---|---|
| Rt80/540Ft E Of University Av | 2 |
| Rt80/1450Ft E Gilman St | 2 |
| Rt80/910Ft W University Av | 2 |
| Rt80/65Ft E Gilman St | 2 |
| Rt80/265Ft W University Ave | 2 |
| I-80 | 2 |
| Rt80/1689Ft E Powell St | 2 |
| Rt80Wb/1153Ft W Gilman St | 1 |
Berkeley at a glance
| Population | 121,749 |
| Land area | 10.4 sq mi |
| Density | 11,671 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 94710) | $102,227 |
| Median home value (ZIP 94710) | $1,066,320 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Berkeley 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 | 16 | — | 8.9 |
| 2010s | 20 | +23% | 6.9 |
| 2020s | 22 | +10% | 6.6 |
In the 2000s about 16 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 22. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 8.5 a year in 2016–19, 6.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Berkeley
How many truck accidents are there in Berkeley?
236 truck crashes have been reported in Berkeley since 2015, with 6 deaths and 83 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Berkeley?
Since 2015, I-80 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of Berkeley: 24.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Berkeley?
Truck crashes in Berkeley peak in July, with 10.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Berkeley?
Since 2015, Berkeley has reported 11 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.7% of its truck crashes.
How does Berkeley compare with California for truck crashes?
Berkeley records 17.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 33.2 across California.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Berkeley?
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.