Oakland, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Oakland: 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
4.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Oakland compares with California
Oakland against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Oakland stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Oakland | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 25.4 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 23% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.3 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 36% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.8% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.2% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 83% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.5% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.2% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.8% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.6% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 15% below the state |
Oakland sits below California on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow.
Oakland at a glance: I-880 deadliest road: 16 fatal truck crashes within 15 miles of Oakland since 2015.
Overview
Oakland has recorded 1,283 truck crashes since 2015, with 616 people injured and 30 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 3 days.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 9.7% of the yearly total, while October has the fewest (7.2%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.8% of truck crashes, against 40.2% across California.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 7.9% of truck crashes.
0.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.9% across California.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-880 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (16). It is followed by I-80 (15), I-680 (7) and I-580 (6).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 22 crashes, 1.7% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
Their busiest month is November, with 18% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 4.5 deaths compared with 2.3 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Oakland fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Oakland.
- Check whether your routes use I-880, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at November schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 25.5% of truck crashes here, more than California; adjust start times where you can.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Oakland
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-880 | 16 |
| I-80 | 15 |
| I-680 | 7 |
| I-580 | 6 |
| US-101 | 6 |
| SR-92 | 3 |
| 16th St | 1 |
| 28th St | 1 |
| 5th Street | 1 |
| 7th St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Oakland) |
|---|---|
| 7Th St/Frontage Rd | 9 |
| Rt880/2750Ft N 66Th | 4 |
| Market St/6Th St | 4 |
| Rt880/95Ft N Of Hegenberger Rd | 3 |
| Rt880/425Ft N High St | 3 |
| Rt880/628Ft S High St | 3 |
| Rt880/630 Ft S Of 98Th | 3 |
| Rt880/400Ft N 23Rd Ave | 3 |
Oakland at a glance
| Population | 443,554 |
| Land area | 56.0 sq mi |
| Density | 7,926 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 94601) | $72,359 |
| Median home value (ZIP 94601) | $711,546 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Oakland 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 | 90 | — | 8.9 |
| 2010s | 112 | +24% | 6.9 |
| 2020s | 108 | -3% | 6.6 |
In the 2000s about 90 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 108. 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 Oakland
How common are truck crashes in Oakland?
Since 2015, 1,283 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Oakland (616 injured, 30 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Oakland?
NHTSA data shows I-880 with 16 fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of Oakland since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Oakland?
Truck crashes in Oakland peak in January, with 9.7% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Oakland?
Garbage trucks were involved in 22 reported crashes in Oakland since 2015 (1.7% of truck crashes).
How does Oakland compare with California for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Oakland has 25.4 truck crashes a year; California has 33.2.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Oakland?
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.