Hercules, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Hercules: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Hercules and Contra Costa County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Contra Costa County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3.3 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.1 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Contra Costa County compares with California
Contra Costa County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Contra Costa County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Contra Costa County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 17.7 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 47% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.1 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 14% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.48 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.6% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.1% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 86% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.3% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.3% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.8% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 27.3% | 29.1% | 24.8% | same |
Contra Costa County sits below California on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Contra Costa County: 1 in 38 crashes involve a garbage truck (60 since 2015), vs 1.6% across California.
Overview
Contra Costa County has recorded 2,377 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,171 people injured and 73 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 2 days.
With 46 truck crashes reported in Hercules since 2015, this page uses Contra Costa County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 10.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 7.3%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.8% of truck crashes, vs 40.2% for California.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 7.8% of truck crashes.
0.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.9% across California.
Where crashes happen
I-80 leads within 10 miles of Hercules with 15 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come I-580 (2), Lake Herman Rd (2) and Cutting Blvd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 60 crashes, 2.5% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in February (15% of them).
They recorded 3.3 deaths per 100 crashes, against 3.1 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Hercules fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Contra Costa County.
- Look at alternatives to I-80 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: 26.3% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than California.
- 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 Contra Costa County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-80 | 15 |
| I-580 | 2 |
| Lake Herman Rd | 2 |
| Cutting Blvd | 1 |
| Giant Rd | 1 |
| Pacheco Blvd | 1 |
| Richmond Pkwy | 1 |
| SR-37 | 1 |
| SR-4 | 1 |
| San Pablo Av | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Contra Costa County) |
|---|---|
| SR-4 | 21 |
| I-680 | 14 |
| Sr-4 W/B | 8 |
| Sr-4 E/B | 5 |
| Richmond Pkwy/Pittsburg Av | 5 |
| Clayton Rd | 4 |
| I-80 | 4 |
| Sr160 Sb/1500Ft N Wilbur Av | 3 |
Hercules at a glance
| Population | 26,499 |
| Land area | 6.4 sq mi |
| Density | 4,132 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 94547) | $129,397 |
| Median home value (ZIP 94547) | $766,181 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Contra Costa 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 | — | — | 4.8 |
| 2000s | 123 | — | 4.4 |
| 2010s | 176 | +43% | 3.7 |
| 2020s | 207 | +17% | 6.2 |
From the 2000s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 123 to 207. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 5.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 6.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Hercules
How common are truck crashes in Hercules?
Contra Costa County has had 2,377 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 1,171 people and killing 73.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Hercules?
I-80 had 15 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Hercules since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Hercules?
August has the most truck crashes in Contra Costa County, 10.1% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Hercules?
60 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Contra Costa County since 2015, 2.5% of all truck crashes.
How does Hercules compare with California for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Contra Costa County has 17.7 truck crashes a year; California has 33.2.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Hercules?
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.