Fresno, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Fresno: 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
3.3 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Fresno compares with California
Fresno against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Fresno stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Fresno | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 17.6 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 47% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.0 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 17% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.48 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.8% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.2% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 80% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.9% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 5.3% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 19% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.1% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 22.0% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 24% below the state |
Compared with California, Fresno is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Fresno: 3.1× yearly fatal truck crashes within 15 miles of Fresno: 4.0 in 2016–19, 12.4 in 2020–24.
Overview
Fresno has recorded 1,130 truck crashes since 2015, with 559 people injured and 34 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 4 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 10.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 5.9%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 38.1% of truck crashes, against 40.2% across California.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 9.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.2% of truck crashes, compared with 0.9% in California.
Where crashes happen
SR-99 leads within 15 miles of Fresno with 16 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come SR-180 (6), Avenue 12 (3) and Belmont Ave (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 32 of the truck crashes here, or 2.8%, compared with 1.6% in California.
Their busiest month is January, with 12% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 3.3 deaths compared with 3.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Fresno fleets
- Build extra time into August routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-99; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: January is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Fresno.
- 26.9% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above California; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Fresno
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-99 | 16 |
| SR-180 | 6 |
| Avenue 12 | 3 |
| Belmont Ave | 3 |
| Marks Ave | 3 |
| SR-41 | 3 |
| Shaw Ave | 3 |
| Temperance Ave | 3 |
| Blackstone Ave | 2 |
| CR-MANNING Ave | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Fresno) |
|---|---|
| Sr-99 N/B | 19 |
| SR-99 | 17 |
| Sr-99 S/B | 13 |
| Jensen Ave | 5 |
| Rt99/100Ft N Clinton Av | 4 |
| Shepherd Ave | 4 |
| Sr99 Nb/900Ft N North Av | 3 |
| Rt99/675Ft N Teilman Ave | 3 |
Fresno at a glance
| Population | 550,105 |
| Land area | 115.9 sq mi |
| Density | 4,746 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Fresno 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 | 2 | — | 21.2 |
| 2000s | 97 | +4755% | 15.1 |
| 2010s | 69 | -29% | 12.3 |
| 2020s | 108 | +56% | 21.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 2 a year in the 1990s and 108 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 15.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 21.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Fresno
How many truck crashes happen in Fresno?
Since 2015, 1,130 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Fresno (559 injured, 34 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Fresno?
Since 2015, SR-99 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of Fresno: 16.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Fresno?
Truck crashes in Fresno peak in August, with 10.1% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Fresno?
Since 2015, Fresno has reported 32 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.8% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Fresno compare with California?
Per 100,000 residents, Fresno has 17.6 truck crashes a year; California has 33.2.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Fresno?
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.