Sacramento County, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Sacramento 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
6.1 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.4 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Sacramento County compares with California
Sacramento County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Sacramento County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Sacramento County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 29.1 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 12% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.44 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.2% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.1% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 94% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.1% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.3% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.6% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 26.1% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 10% below the state |
Sacramento County sits below California on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark. It runs above California on garbage-truck share, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Sacramento County: 0.1% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 0.9% in California.
Overview
Police reported 5,358 crashes involving commercial trucks in Sacramento County since 2015: 2,356 people were injured and 178 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 9.5% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (7.4%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 39.6% of truck crashes, vs 40.2% for California.
The busiest hour is 7–8 am, with 7.0% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.1% of truck crashes, compared with 0.9% in California.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Sacramento County is I-5, with 28 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come SR-99 (17), I-80 (11) and SR-16 (6).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 123 crashes, 2.3% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
Their busiest month is December, with 12% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 6.1, vs 3.4 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Sacramento County fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Sacramento County.
- Check whether your routes use I-5, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: December is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Sacramento County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 26.1% of truck crashes here, more than California; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 Sacramento County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Sacramento County) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 28 |
| SR-99 | 17 |
| I-80 | 11 |
| SR-16 | 6 |
| SR-12 | 5 |
| US-50 | 5 |
| SR-160 | 3 |
| Watt Ave | 3 |
| CR-STOCKTON Blvd | 2 |
| Florin Rd | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Sacramento County) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 16 |
| Us-50 E/B | 15 |
| Sr-99 N/B | 14 |
| Sr-99 S/B | 13 |
| Sunrise Blvd | 10 |
| Us-50 W/B | 10 |
| Madison Ave | 7 |
| I-80 | 7 |
Sacramento County at a glance
| Population | 1,611,231 |
| Land area | 965.3 sq mi |
| Density | 1,669 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $95,773 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Sacramento 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 | 1 | — | 8.3 |
| 2000s | 307 | +30620% | 8.7 |
| 2010s | 386 | +26% | 8.8 |
| 2020s | 478 | +24% | 12.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 1 to 478. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 14.0 a year in 2016–19 and 12.6 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Sacramento County
ZIP codes in Sacramento County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Sacramento County
How many truck accidents are there in Sacramento County?
Since 2015, 5,358 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Sacramento County (2,356 injured, 178 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Sacramento County?
I-5 had 28 fatal crashes involving a large truck in Sacramento County since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Sacramento County?
Truck crashes in Sacramento County peak in October, with 9.5% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Sacramento County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 123 reported crashes in Sacramento County since 2015 (2.3% of truck crashes).
How does Sacramento County compare with California for truck crashes?
Sacramento County records 29.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 33.2 across California.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Sacramento 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.