Palo Cedro, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Palo Cedro: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Palo Cedro and Shasta County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Shasta County numbers.
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 |
Compared with California, Shasta County is lower 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.
The headline for 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.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
Palo Cedro had 0 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Shasta County numbers.
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.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (8.6%).
7.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.9% across California.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-5 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (5). Next come Airport Rd (1), California Market Aly (1) and China Gulch Dr (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 Palo Cedro 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
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 Shasta County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 5 |
| Airport Rd | 1 |
| California Market Aly | 1 |
| China Gulch Dr | 1 |
| Deschutes Rd | 1 |
| East Cypress Ave | 1 |
| S Bonnyview Rd | 1 |
| SR-273 | 1 |
| State St | 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 |
Palo Cedro at a glance
| Land area | 8.2 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 96073) | $120,469 |
| Median home value (ZIP 96073) | $564,866 |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 1 a year in the 1990s and 79 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.0 a year in 2016–19 and 4.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Palo Cedro
How many truck crashes happen in Palo Cedro?
Since 2015, 942 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Shasta County (366 injured, 46 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Palo Cedro?
I-5 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Palo Cedro since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Palo Cedro?
October has the most truck crashes in Shasta County, 10.3% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Palo Cedro?
Since 2015, Shasta County has reported 7 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.7% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Palo Cedro compare with California?
Per 100,000 residents, Shasta County has 45.4 truck crashes a year; California has 33.2.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Palo Cedro?
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.