Denver, CO truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Denver: 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
4.7 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Denver compares with Colorado
Denver against Colorado and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Denver stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Denver | Colorado | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 27.7 | 32.6 | 49.7 | 15% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.3 | 5.1 | 3.4 | 55% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.24 | 0.32 | 0.49 | 25% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.9% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 7.0% | 14.8% | 6.2% | 53% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.4% | 25.7% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.5% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 35% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.5% | 43.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 18.2% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 19% below the state |
Denver has lower values than Colorado for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Denver: I-70 21 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 15 miles of Denver.
Overview
Police reported 2,357 crashes involving commercial trucks in Denver since 2015: 579 people were injured and 53 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (9.4% of the year) and are lowest in July (7.2%).
November through March accounts for 44.5% of truck crashes here, compared with 43.5% in Colorado.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 8.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 7.0% of truck crashes, compared with 14.8% in Colorado.
Where crashes happen
I-70 leads within 15 miles of Denver with 21 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come I-25 (12), I-76 (7) and SR-470 (6).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 95 of the truck crashes here, or 4.0%, compared with 2.8% in Colorado.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in September (12% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 4.7, vs 2.3 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Denver fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-70 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in September; review collection routes for that month.
- Morning starts matter: 28.4% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Colorado.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Denver
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-70 | 21 |
| I-25 | 12 |
| I-76 | 7 |
| SR-470 | 6 |
| US-85 | 6 |
| I-225 | 4 |
| SR-121 | 4 |
| SR-30 | 3 |
| SR-35 | 3 |
| SR-53 | 3 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Denver) |
|---|---|
| I 25 At Mp 212 | 28 |
| I 70 At Mp 280 | 22 |
| I 70 At Mp 275 | 18 |
| I 70 At Mp 281 | 17 |
| I 25 At Mp 209 | 17 |
| I 25 At Mp 211 | 17 |
| I 25 At Mp 210 | 16 |
| I 70 At Mp 276 | 13 |
Denver at a glance
| Population | 729,019 |
| Land area | 153.1 sq mi |
| Density | 4,763 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 80238) | $180,940 |
| Median home value (ZIP 80238) | $829,921 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Denver 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 | 160 | — | 4.0 |
| 2000s | 258 | +61% | 2.1 |
| 2010s | 197 | -24% | 2.8 |
| 2020s | 196 | -1% | 4.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 160 a year in the 1990s and 196 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 4.2 a year in 2016–19, 4.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Denver
How common are truck crashes in Denver?
2,357 truck crashes have been reported in Denver since 2015, with 53 deaths and 579 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Denver?
I-70 had 21 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 15 miles of Denver since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Denver?
Truck crashes in Denver peak in March, with 9.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Denver?
Since 2015, Denver has reported 95 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.0% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Denver compare with Colorado?
Per 100,000 residents, Denver has 27.7 truck crashes a year; Colorado has 32.6.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Denver?
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.