Kern County, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Kern 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
9.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 5.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Kern County compares with California
Kern County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Kern County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Kern County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 68.6 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 2.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.7 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.0% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 41% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.9% | 0.9% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.6% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 12% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 5.1% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 21% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.3% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 34.6% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Kern County has lower values than California for garbage-truck share, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and after dark.
The headline for Kern County: December garbage-truck crashes peak in December (17% of the year's total).
Overview
Kern County has recorded 7,248 truck crashes since 2015, with 3,414 people injured and 403 killed.
That averages about 2 truck crashes a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 9.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 7.1%.
November through March accounts for 39.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.2% in California.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (6.5%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.9% of truck crashes, compared with 0.9% in California.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Kern County is I-5, with 34 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by SR-58 (33), SR-99 (30) and SR-46 (12).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 69 crashes, 1.0% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
Their busiest month is December, with 17% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 9.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 5.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Kern County fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Kern County.
- Look at alternatives to I-5 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at December schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 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 Kern County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Kern County) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 34 |
| SR-58 | 33 |
| SR-99 | 30 |
| SR-46 | 12 |
| SR-119 | 8 |
| SR-14 | 8 |
| SR-178 | 8 |
| SR-43 | 6 |
| SR-65 | 6 |
| US-395 | 6 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Kern County) |
|---|---|
| Sr-99 N/B | 31 |
| Sr-58 W/B | 23 |
| I-5 | 22 |
| Sr-58 E/B | 21 |
| SR-58 | 20 |
| Sr-99 S/B | 17 |
| SR-99 | 17 |
| SR-223 | 11 |
Kern County at a glance
| Population | 922,529 |
| Land area | 8,134.7 sq mi |
| Density | 113 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $72,809 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Kern 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 | 5 | — | 23.6 |
| 2000s | 398 | +7854% | 20.5 |
| 2010s | 543 | +37% | 21.7 |
| 2020s | 659 | +21% | 28.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 5 to 659. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 25.0 a year in 2016–19 and 28.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Kern County
ZIP codes in Kern County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Kern County
How many truck accidents are there in Kern County?
Since 2015, 7,248 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Kern County (3,414 injured, 403 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Kern County?
I-5 had 34 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Kern County since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Kern County?
Truck crashes in Kern County peak in August, with 9.4% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Kern County?
69 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Kern County since 2015, 1.0% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Kern County compare with California?
Kern County records 68.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 33.2 across California.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Kern County?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.