Union City, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Union City: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Union City and Alameda County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Alameda County numbers.
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 |
Compared with California, Alameda County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Alameda County: 0.1% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (California: 0.9%).
Overview
Since 2015, 6,377 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Alameda County. They injured 2,661 people and killed 121.
That averages about 2 truck crashes a day in fully reported years.
With 138 truck crashes reported in Union City since 2015, this page uses Alameda County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 9.3% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (7.7%).
November through March accounts for 40.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.2% in California.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 6.7% of truck crashes.
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 within 10 miles of Union City is I-680, with 9 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by I-880 (8), I-580 (6) and SR-238 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 82 crashes, 1.3% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in February (11% of them).
They recorded 2.5 deaths per 100 crashes, against 1.9 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Union City fleets
- Build extra time into August routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-680; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in February; review collection routes for that month.
- 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 Alameda County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-680 | 9 |
| I-880 | 8 |
| I-580 | 6 |
| SR-238 | 3 |
| SR-92 | 3 |
| Boyce Rd | 2 |
| Fremont Bl | 2 |
| Cherry St | 1 |
| Harder Rd | 1 |
| Hesperian Blvd | 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 |
Union City at a glance
| Population | 66,196 |
| Land area | 19.4 sq mi |
| Density | 3,413 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 94536) | $167,662 |
| Median home value (ZIP 94536) | $1,286,991 |
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 |
From the 2000s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 363 to 520. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 8.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 6.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Union City
How common are truck crashes in Union City?
Alameda County has had 6,377 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 2,661 people and killing 121.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Union City?
I-680 had 9 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Union City since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Union City?
August has the most truck crashes in Alameda County, 9.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Union City?
82 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Alameda County since 2015, 1.3% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Union City compare with California?
Alameda County records 34.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 33.2 across California.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Union City?
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.