Cottonwood, Kern County, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Cottonwood, Kern County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Cottonwood, Kern County and Kern County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Kern County numbers.
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 |
Compared with California, Kern County is lower on garbage-truck share, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and after dark.
Kern County at a glance: December garbage-truck crashes peak in December (17% of the year's total).
Overview
Since 2015, 7,248 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Kern County. They injured 3,414 people and killed 403.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 2 truck crashes a day.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Cottonwood, Kern County since 2015, this page uses Kern County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 9.4% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (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
SR-99 leads within 10 miles of Cottonwood with 20 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by SR-58 (7), SR-119 (4) and SR-184 (4).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 69 crashes, 1.0% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in December (17%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 9.0, vs 5.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Cottonwood, Kern County fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Kern County.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-99; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in December; review collection routes for that month.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Kern County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-99 | 20 |
| SR-58 | 7 |
| SR-119 | 4 |
| SR-184 | 4 |
| SR-65 | 3 |
| CR-DI Giorgio Rd | 2 |
| California Ave | 2 |
| Chester Ave | 2 |
| Panama Ln | 2 |
| SR-178 | 2 |
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 |
Cottonwood, Kern County at a glance
| Land area | 0.4 sq mi |
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 |
In the 1990s about 5 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 659. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 25.0 a year in 2016–19 and 28.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Cottonwood, Kern County
How many truck accidents are there in Cottonwood, Kern County?
Since 2015, 7,248 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Kern County (3,414 injured, 403 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Cottonwood, Kern County?
SR-99 had 20 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Cottonwood since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Cottonwood, Kern County?
The worst month is August: 9.4% of truck crashes in Kern County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Cottonwood, Kern County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 69 reported crashes in Kern County since 2015 (1.0% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Cottonwood, Kern County compared with California?
The yearly rate is 68.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Kern County, vs 33.2 for California.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Cottonwood, 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.