Shasta County, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Shasta 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
7 of 942 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Shasta County compares with California
Shasta County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Shasta County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Shasta County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 45.4 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.1 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.38 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 14% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.8% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 53% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 7.4% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 8.0× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.2% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 14% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 21.8% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 3.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.0% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 27.3% | 29.1% | 24.8% | same |
Shasta County sits below California on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Shasta County: 7.4% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (California: 0.9%).
Overview
Since 2015, 942 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Shasta County. They injured 366 people and killed 46.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 4 days.
When crashes happen
October has the most truck crashes, 10.3% of the yearly total, while September has the fewest (6.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.0% of truck crashes, vs 40.2% for California.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 8.6% of truck crashes.
7.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.9% across California.
Where crashes happen
I-5 leads in Shasta County with 14 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by SR-299 (10), Airport Rd (1) and Balls Ferry Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 7 crashes, 0.7% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
Route planning tips for Shasta County fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Shasta County.
- Look at alternatives to I-5 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- With 7.4% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above California), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Shasta County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Shasta County) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 14 |
| SR-299 | 10 |
| Airport Rd | 1 |
| Balls Ferry Rd | 1 |
| CR-TAMARACK Rd | 1 |
| California Market Aly | 1 |
| China Gulch Dr | 1 |
| Deschutes Rd | 1 |
| East Cypress Ave | 1 |
| Gas Point Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Shasta County) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 12 |
| SR-299 | 5 |
| Rt5/.6M S Delta Rd | 5 |
| SR-44 | 3 |
| Rt89/2.5M S Cassel Rd | 3 |
| Rt5/.6M S Flume Creek Rd | 3 |
| Rt5/.6M N Sims Rd | 3 |
| Rt5/.5M S Flume Creek Rd | 3 |
Shasta County at a glance
| Population | 181,121 |
| Land area | 3,775.7 sq mi |
| Density | 48 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $72,308 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Shasta 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 | — | 4.6 |
| 2000s | 60 | +5900% | 2.1 |
| 2010s | 76 | +27% | 2.7 |
| 2020s | 79 | +4% | 4.8 |
In the 1990s about 1 truck crash a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 79. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.0 a year in 2016–19 and 4.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Shasta County
ZIP codes in Shasta County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Shasta County
How common are truck crashes in Shasta County?
Shasta County has had 942 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 366 people and killing 46.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Shasta County?
NHTSA data shows I-5 with 14 fatal large-truck crashes in Shasta County since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Shasta County?
October has the most truck crashes in Shasta County, 10.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Shasta County?
7 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Shasta County since 2015, 0.7% of all truck crashes.
How does Shasta County compare with California for truck crashes?
Shasta County records 45.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 33.2 across California.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Shasta County?
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.