Mendocino County, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Mendocino 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
5 of 543 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Mendocino County compares with California
Mendocino County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Mendocino County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Mendocino County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 53.4 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 1.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.5 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.42 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.8% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 54% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.7% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 2.9× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.1% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.8% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 2.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.4% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 22.7% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 22% below the state |
Compared with California, Mendocino County is lower on garbage-truck share and after dark. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Mendocino County: 2.7% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (California: 0.9%).
Overview
Mendocino County has recorded 543 truck crashes since 2015, with 228 people injured and 31 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 8 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (10.9% of the year) and are lowest in April (6.3%).
November through March accounts for 38.4% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.2% in California.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (9.4%).
2.7% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.9% across California.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-101 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (13). It is followed by SR-20 (5), SR-128 (3) and SR-162 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 5 of the truck crashes here, or 0.9%, compared with 1.6% in California.
Route planning tips for Mendocino County fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to US-101 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Morning starts matter: 27.1% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than California.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 2.7% of truck crashes here, more than California; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Mendocino County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Mendocino County) |
|---|---|
| US-101 | 13 |
| SR-20 | 5 |
| SR-128 | 3 |
| SR-162 | 2 |
| Mountain View Rd | 1 |
| S Main St | 1 |
| SR-222 | 1 |
| Talmage Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Mendocino County) |
|---|---|
| US-101 | 12 |
| SR-1 | 5 |
| SR-162 | 3 |
| SR-128 | 3 |
| Rt20/.3M E Rd 144 | 3 |
| N State St/.1M N Pomo Dr | 2 |
| Orr Springs Rd/2.3Mi W Of Pinoleville Rd | 2 |
| Rt1/.51M S Navarro Bluff Rd | 2 |
Mendocino County at a glance
| Population | 89,175 |
| Land area | 3,506.8 sq mi |
| Density | 25 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $71,854 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Mendocino 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 | — | — | 4.2 |
| 2000s | 35 | — | 2.7 |
| 2010s | 42 | +18% | 2.1 |
| 2020s | 50 | +19% | 2.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 35 a year in the 2000s and 50 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 3.0 a year in 2016–19 and 2.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Mendocino County
ZIP codes in Mendocino County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Mendocino County
How many truck accidents are there in Mendocino County?
543 truck crashes have been reported in Mendocino County since 2015, with 31 deaths and 228 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Mendocino County?
NHTSA data shows US-101 with 13 fatal large-truck crashes in Mendocino County since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Mendocino County?
Truck crashes in Mendocino County peak in October, with 10.9% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Mendocino County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 5 reported crashes in Mendocino County since 2015 (0.9% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Mendocino County compared with California?
The yearly rate is 53.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Mendocino County, vs 33.2 for California.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Mendocino 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.