Lancaster, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Lancaster: 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
8 of 288 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Lancaster compares with California
Lancaster against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lancaster stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lancaster | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 15.0 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 55% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.9 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 1.9× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.56 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.9% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.8× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.4% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 61% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.7% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 3.3% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 50% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.7% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.5% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 19% below the state |
Lancaster has lower values than California for crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above California on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
Lancaster at a glance: 1 in 34 crashes involve a garbage truck (8 since 2015), vs 1.6% across California.
Overview
Since 2015, 288 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Lancaster. They injured 161 people and killed 19.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 15 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is September with 10.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 5.2%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 41.7% of truck crashes, against 40.2% across California.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (7.6%).
Road surface: 0.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (California: 0.9%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-138 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (16). Next come SR-14 (9), Sierra Hwy (4) and Avenue H (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
8 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.8% share (California: 1.6%).
Route planning tips for Lancaster fleets
- Plan September schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Lancaster.
- Check whether your routes use SR-138, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Morning starts matter: 25.7% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than California.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Lancaster
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-138 | 16 |
| SR-14 | 9 |
| Sierra Hwy | 4 |
| Avenue H | 3 |
| Avenue G | 2 |
| Avenue I | 2 |
| Avenue J | 2 |
| CR-SIERRA Hwy | 2 |
| 110th St W | 1 |
| 20th St E | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lancaster) |
|---|---|
| Sr-14 S/B | 2 |
| Sierra Hwy | 2 |
| Avenue M/Challenger Wy | 2 |
| Avenue J/600Ft W Of 8Th St | 2 |
| Avenue G | 2 |
| Avenue I | 2 |
| Av M/39Ft E Rt14 Off/R | 2 |
| Av K/70Th St | 2 |
Lancaster at a glance
| Population | 167,426 |
| Land area | 94.3 sq mi |
| Density | 1,776 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lancaster 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 | — | — | 62.3 |
| 2000s | 13 | — | 55.4 |
| 2010s | 19 | +44% | 48.7 |
| 2020s | 25 | +33% | 61.8 |
In the 2000s about 13 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 25. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 54.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 61.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Lancaster
How many truck crashes happen in Lancaster?
288 truck crashes have been reported in Lancaster since 2015, with 19 deaths and 161 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Lancaster?
NHTSA data shows SR-138 with 16 fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of Lancaster since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Lancaster?
September has the most truck crashes in Lancaster, 10.8% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Lancaster?
Garbage trucks were involved in 8 reported crashes in Lancaster since 2015 (2.8% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Lancaster compared with California?
Lancaster records 15.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 33.2 across California.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Lancaster?
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.