Humboldt County, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Humboldt County: 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
12 of 434 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Humboldt County compares with California
Humboldt County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Humboldt County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Humboldt County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 29.2 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 12% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 8.7 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 2.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.39 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.8% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.4% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 2.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.8% | 23.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.8% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 2.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 32.2% | 40.2% | 41.9% | 20% below the state |
| After dark | 24.0% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 17% below the state |
Compared with California, Humboldt County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and winter months (nov–mar). It runs above California on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
Humboldt County at a glance: 2.4% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 0.9% in California.
Overview
Humboldt County has recorded 434 truck crashes since 2015, with 173 people injured and 37 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 9 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is July with 10.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 5.8%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 32.2% of truck crashes, vs 40.2% for California.
By time of day, 3–4 pm stands out with 9.2% of truck crashes.
2.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.9% across California.
Where crashes happen
US-101 leads in Humboldt County with 10 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-299 (5), Alderpoint Rd (2) and SR-36 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
12 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.8% share (California: 1.6%).
Route planning tips for Humboldt County fleets
- Review driver schedules for July, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use US-101, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 2.4% of truck crashes here, more than California; schedule winter checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Humboldt County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Humboldt County) |
|---|---|
| US-101 | 10 |
| SR-299 | 5 |
| Alderpoint Rd | 2 |
| SR-36 | 2 |
| CR-CENTERVILLE Rd | 1 |
| CR-REDWOOD Drive | 1 |
| Myrtle Ave | 1 |
| SR-96 | 1 |
| Singley Hill Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Humboldt County) |
|---|---|
| US-101 | 5 |
| SR-36 | 4 |
| SR-299 | 3 |
| Central Av/Gwin Rd | 2 |
| Rt101/.7M S Kane Rd | 2 |
| Rt101/.8M S Kane Rd | 2 |
| Rt101/1.2M S Kane Rd | 2 |
| Rt96/.6M E Slate Creek Rd | 2 |
Humboldt County at a glance
| Population | 132,380 |
| Land area | 3,568.0 sq mi |
| Density | 37 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $62,480 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Humboldt 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 | — | — | 2.4 |
| 2000s | 29 | — | 1.2 |
| 2010s | 34 | +16% | 2.1 |
| 2020s | 39 | +14% | 2.0 |
In the 2000s about 29 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 39. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 3.2 a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Humboldt County
ZIP codes in Humboldt County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Humboldt County
How common are truck crashes in Humboldt County?
434 truck crashes have been reported in Humboldt County since 2015, with 37 deaths and 173 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Humboldt County?
Since 2015, US-101 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Humboldt County: 10.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Humboldt County?
The worst month is July: 10.8% of truck crashes in Humboldt County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Humboldt County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 12 reported crashes in Humboldt County since 2015 (2.8% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Humboldt County compared with California?
The yearly rate is 29.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Humboldt County, vs 33.2 for California.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Humboldt County?
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.