Soledad, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Soledad: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Soledad 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 sits below California on on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and winter months (nov–mar). It runs above California on deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
Monterey County at a glance: September worst month: 12.9% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,633 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Monterey County. They injured 697 people and killed 62.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 3 days.
With 10 truck crashes reported in Soledad since 2015, this page uses Monterey County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
September has the most truck crashes, 12.9% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (4.5%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 28.0% of truck crashes, against 40.2% across California.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out 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
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Soledad happened on US-101 (3); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
29 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.8% share (California: 1.6%).
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 Soledad fleets
- Plan September schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Monterey County.
- 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 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-101 | 3 |
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 |
Soledad at a glance
| Population | 26,345 |
| Land area | 4.5 sq mi |
| Density | 5,907 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 93960) | $96,049 |
| Median home value (ZIP 93960) | $568,754 |
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 |
In the 2000s about 85 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 139. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 3.5 a year in 2016–19 and 6.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Soledad
How common are truck crashes in Soledad?
Monterey County has had 1,633 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 697 people and killing 62.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Soledad?
September has the most truck crashes in Monterey County, 12.9% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Soledad?
Since 2015, Monterey County has reported 29 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.8% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Soledad compare with California?
Per 100,000 residents, Monterey County has 33.1 truck crashes a year; California has 33.2.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Soledad?
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.