Joshua Tree, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Joshua Tree: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Joshua Tree and San Bernardino County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use San Bernardino County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2.8 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How San Bernardino County compares with California
San Bernardino County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where San Bernardino County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | San Bernardino County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 66.4 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 2.0× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.42 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.9% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 47% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.6% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 39% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.9% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 15% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 5.4% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 17% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.2% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 36.8% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Compared with California, San Bernardino County is lower on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr and after dark.
What stands out in Joshua Tree: SR-62 5 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of Joshua Tree.
Overview
San Bernardino County has recorded 16,987 truck crashes since 2015, with 7,216 people injured and 617 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 4 truck crashes every day.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Joshua Tree since 2015; patterns below come from San Bernardino County as a whole.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 9.1% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (7.8%).
November through March accounts for 41.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.2% in California.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 5.4% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (California: 0.9%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Joshua Tree is SR-62, with 5 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come Buena Vista Dr (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 145 of the truck crashes here, or 0.9%, compared with 1.6% in California.
Their busiest month is April, with 12% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 2.8 deaths compared with 3.7 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Joshua Tree fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in San Bernardino County.
- Check whether your routes use SR-62, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: April is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in San Bernardino County.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in San Bernardino County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-62 | 5 |
| Buena Vista Dr | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (San Bernardino County) |
|---|---|
| I-15 | 67 |
| I-40 | 35 |
| I-10 W/B (San Bernardino Fwy) | 29 |
| I-10 E/B (San Bernardino Fwy) | 27 |
| Sr-60 E/B (Pomona Fwy) | 19 |
| I-10 | 16 |
| US-395 | 14 |
| I-15 N/B (Ontario Fwy) | 14 |
Joshua Tree at a glance
| Land area | 36.1 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 92252) | $66,598 |
| Median home value (ZIP 92252) | $360,452 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in San Bernardino 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 | 6 | — | 32.0 |
| 2000s | 850 | +14065% | 34.8 |
| 2010s | 1,161 | +37% | 30.6 |
| 2020s | 1,571 | +35% | 43.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 6 to 1,571. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 35.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 43.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Joshua Tree
How many truck crashes happen in Joshua Tree?
San Bernardino County has had 16,987 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 7,216 people and killing 617.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Joshua Tree?
NHTSA data shows SR-62 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Joshua Tree since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Joshua Tree?
The worst month is August: 9.1% of truck crashes in San Bernardino County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Joshua Tree?
Garbage trucks were involved in 145 reported crashes in San Bernardino County since 2015 (0.9% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Joshua Tree compared with California?
San Bernardino County records 66.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 33.2 across California.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Joshua Tree?
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.