Gonzales, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Gonzales: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Gonzales and Monterey County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Monterey County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.9 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Monterey County compares with California
Monterey County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Monterey County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Monterey County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 33.1 | 33.2 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.9 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.42 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.8% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.3% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 66% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.2% | 23.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 4.7% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 28% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 28.0% | 40.2% | 41.9% | 30% below the state |
| After dark | 24.5% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 16% below the state |
Compared with California, Monterey County is lower on on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar). It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Monterey County: September 12.9% of truck crashes happen in September, more than any other month.
Overview
Monterey County has recorded 1,633 truck crashes since 2015, with 697 people injured and 62 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 3 days.
Only 9 truck crashes were reported in Gonzales since 2015; patterns below come from Monterey County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in September (12.9% of the year) and are lowest in February (4.5%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 28.0% of truck crashes, against 40.2% across California.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (7.8%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.3% of truck crashes, compared with 0.9% in California.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Gonzales since 2015: US-101 (3) and Ave H (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 29 crashes, 1.8% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
Their busiest month is February, with 14% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 3.9 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Gonzales fleets
- Build extra time into September routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Waste haulers: February is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Monterey County.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Monterey County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-101 | 3 |
| Ave H | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Monterey County) |
|---|---|
| US-101 | 26 |
| Rt101/Spence Rd | 20 |
| Rt101/Hartnell Rd | 7 |
| SR-1 | 6 |
| SR-183 | 4 |
| San Juan Road | 4 |
| Rt101/.1M N Boronda Rd | 4 |
| Rt101/.2M N John St | 4 |
Gonzales at a glance
| Population | 8,431 |
| Land area | 1.9 sq mi |
| Density | 4,407 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 93926) | $77,694 |
| Median home value (ZIP 93926) | $628,243 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Monterey 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 | — | — | 5.2 |
| 2000s | 85 | — | 4.4 |
| 2010s | 134 | +57% | 3.5 |
| 2020s | 139 | +4% | 6.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 85 a year in the 2000s and 139 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 3.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 6.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Gonzales
How many truck accidents are there in Gonzales?
1,633 truck crashes have been reported in Monterey County since 2015, with 62 deaths and 697 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Gonzales?
September has the most truck crashes in Monterey County, 12.9% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Gonzales?
29 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Monterey County since 2015, 1.8% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Gonzales compared with California?
The yearly rate is 33.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Monterey County, vs 33.2 for California.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Gonzales?
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.