Los Angeles, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Los Angeles: 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
3.2 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Los Angeles compares with California
Los Angeles against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Los Angeles stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Los Angeles | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 18.8 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 43% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.2 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 11% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.9× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.1% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 84% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.6% | 23.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.1% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.1% | 40.2% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 30.0% | 29.1% | 24.8% | same |
Los Angeles has lower values than California for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar).
The headline for Los Angeles: 1 in 32 crashes involve a garbage truck (270 since 2015), vs 1.6% across California.
Overview
Los Angeles has recorded 8,309 truck crashes since 2015, with 3,766 people injured and 270 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 2 truck crashes every day.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 9.4% of the yearly total, while July has the fewest (7.6%).
November through March accounts for 43.1% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.2% in California.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 6.5% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (California: 0.9%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 15 miles of Los Angeles is I-5, with 24 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by US-101 (15), I-405 (11) and I-10 (9).
Garbage & waste trucks
270 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.2% share (California: 1.6%).
Their busiest month is February, with 11% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 3.2, vs 3.2 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Los Angeles fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Los Angeles.
- Where you can, review stops along I-5; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at February schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Los Angeles
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 24 |
| US-101 | 15 |
| I-405 | 11 |
| I-10 | 9 |
| I-105 | 8 |
| I-110 | 8 |
| Alameda St | 4 |
| SR-2 | 4 |
| Central Ave | 3 |
| Century Blvd | 3 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Los Angeles) |
|---|---|
| I-5 S/B (Golden State Freeway) | 14 |
| Us-101 S/B | 10 |
| I-5 N/B (Golden State Freeway) | 10 |
| I-5 | 8 |
| Us-101 N/B | 7 |
| I-5 Southbound Truck Lanes | 7 |
| I-5 S/B Golden State Freeway | 7 |
| I-5 Northbound Truck Lanes | 7 |
Los Angeles at a glance
| Population | 3,878,704 |
| Land area | 470.5 sq mi |
| Density | 8,243 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 90034) | $105,701 |
| Median home value (ZIP 90034) | $1,461,244 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Los Angeles 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 | — | 62.3 |
| 2000s | 750 | +37400% | 55.4 |
| 2010s | 793 | +6% | 48.7 |
| 2020s | 654 | -17% | 61.8 |
In the 1990s about 2 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 654. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 54.0 a year in 2016–19, 61.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Los Angeles
How many truck crashes happen in Los Angeles?
Since 2015, 8,309 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Los Angeles (3,766 injured, 270 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Los Angeles?
Since 2015, I-5 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of Los Angeles: 24.
When do most truck crashes happen in Los Angeles?
Truck crashes in Los Angeles peak in January, with 9.4% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Los Angeles?
Since 2015, Los Angeles has reported 270 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.2% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Los Angeles compared with California?
Per 100,000 residents, Los Angeles has 18.8 truck crashes a year; California has 33.2.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Los Angeles?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.