Visalia, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Visalia: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Visalia and Tulare County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Tulare County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2.3 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 5.2 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Tulare County compares with California
Tulare County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Tulare County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Tulare County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 51.0 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 1.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.2 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 1.6% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.1% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 88% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.2% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 5.4% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 17% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.4% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 26.4% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 9% below the state |
Compared with California, Tulare County is lower on on snow, slush or ice, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and morning rush (6–10 am).
Tulare County at a glance: 0.1% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (California: 0.9%).
Overview
Tulare County has recorded 2,862 truck crashes since 2015, with 1,357 people injured and 142 killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
With 198 truck crashes reported in Visalia since 2015, this page uses Tulare County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (9.6% of the year) and are lowest in July (6.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.4% of truck crashes, vs 40.2% for California.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 7.9% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (California: 0.9%).
Where crashes happen
SR-99 leads within 15 miles of Visalia with 12 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come SR-198 (4), Grangeville Blvd (2) and SR-201 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 47 crashes, 1.6% of the total, against 1.6% across California.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in February (17%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 2.3 deaths compared with 5.2 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Visalia fleets
- Plan October schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Tulare County.
- Look at alternatives to SR-99 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in February; review collection routes for that month.
- 26.2% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above California; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Tulare County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-99 | 12 |
| SR-198 | 4 |
| Grangeville Blvd | 2 |
| SR-201 | 2 |
| SR-63 | 2 |
| SR-65 | 2 |
| Ave 384 | 1 |
| Avenue 352 | 1 |
| Avenue 384 | 1 |
| Avenue 392 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Tulare County) |
|---|---|
| SR-99 | 25 |
| Sr-99 N/B | 20 |
| Sr-99 S/B | 12 |
| SR-65 | 7 |
| Road 152 | 6 |
| SR-63 | 6 |
| SR-198 | 5 |
| SR-137 | 4 |
Visalia at a glance
| Population | 146,271 |
| Land area | 38.5 sq mi |
| Density | 3,799 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Tulare 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 | 4 | — | 11.0 |
| 2000s | 140 | +3402% | 11.1 |
| 2010s | 198 | +42% | 8.8 |
| 2020s | 262 | +32% | 10.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 4 a year in the 1990s and 262 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 8.0 a year in 2016–19, 10.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Visalia
How common are truck crashes in Visalia?
2,862 truck crashes have been reported in Tulare County since 2015, with 142 deaths and 1,357 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Visalia?
SR-99 had 12 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 15 miles of Visalia since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Visalia?
Truck crashes in Tulare County peak in October, with 9.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Visalia?
47 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Tulare County since 2015, 1.6% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Visalia compare with California?
Per 100,000 residents, Tulare County has 51.0 truck crashes a year; California has 33.2.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Visalia?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.