Salinas, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Salinas: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Salinas 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 |
Monterey County has lower values than California for 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.
The headline for Salinas: 2.5× change in fatal truck crashes a year within 15 miles of Salinas (2.0 → 5.0).
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.
Salinas had 125 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Monterey County numbers.
When crashes happen
September has the most truck crashes, 12.9% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (4.5%).
November through March accounts for 28.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.2% in California.
The busiest hour is 12–1 pm, with 7.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.3% of truck crashes, compared with 0.9% in California.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-101 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (12). It is followed by SR-183 (3), SR-1 (2) and SR-129 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 29 of the truck crashes here, or 1.8%, compared with 1.6% in California.
Their busiest month is February, with 14% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 3.9 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Salinas fleets
- Review driver schedules for September, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use US-101, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at February schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 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 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-101 | 12 |
| SR-183 | 3 |
| SR-1 | 2 |
| SR-129 | 2 |
| Alisal Rd | 1 |
| Ave H | 1 |
| Blanco Rd | 1 |
| CR-ABBOTT St | 1 |
| CR-ESPINOSA Rd | 1 |
| CR-G17 River Rd | 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 |
Salinas at a glance
| Population | 160,783 |
| Land area | 23.5 sq mi |
| Density | 6,837 per sq mi |
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 Salinas
How many truck accidents are there in Salinas?
Monterey County has had 1,633 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 697 people and killing 62.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Salinas?
NHTSA data shows US-101 with 12 fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of Salinas since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Salinas?
The worst month is September: 12.9% of truck crashes in Monterey County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Salinas?
29 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Monterey County since 2015, 1.8% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Salinas compare with California?
Monterey County records 33.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 33.2 across California.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Salinas?
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.