Garfield County, CO truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Garfield 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 449 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Garfield County compares with Colorado
Garfield County against Colorado and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Garfield County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Garfield County | Colorado | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 61.2 | 32.6 | 49.7 | 1.9× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.8 | 5.1 | 3.4 | 45% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.50 | 0.32 | 0.49 | 1.6× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.7% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 41% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 25.9% | 14.8% | 6.2% | 1.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.7% | 25.7% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 23.1% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 1.7× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 49.2% | 43.5% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 29.2% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Garfield County has lower values than Colorado for deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice.
Garfield County at a glance: 25.9% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Colorado: 14.8%).
Overview
Police reported 449 crashes involving commercial trucks in Garfield County since 2015: 221 people were injured and 16 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 9 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (12.7% of the year) and are lowest in November (5.1%).
November through March accounts for 49.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 43.5% in Colorado.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (7.6%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 25.9% of truck crashes, compared with 14.8% in Colorado.
Where crashes happen
I-70 leads in Garfield County with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come CR-331 (1), SR-13 (1) and SR-139 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 7 crashes, 1.6% of the total, against 2.8% across Colorado.
Route planning tips for Garfield County fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Garfield County.
- Check whether your routes use I-70, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 25.9% of truck crashes here, more than Colorado; schedule winter checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Garfield County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Garfield County) |
|---|---|
| I-70 | 3 |
| CR-331 | 1 |
| SR-13 | 1 |
| SR-139 | 1 |
| SR-82 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Garfield County) |
|---|---|
| I70 1,584 Feet E Of Mp 120 | 7 |
| I70 .50 Miles E Of Mp 120 | 7 |
| I 70 At Mp 116 | 6 |
| I70 .60 Miles E Of Mp 124 | 5 |
| I 70 At Mp 122 | 5 |
| I 70 At Mp 108 | 5 |
| I 70 At Mp 120 | 4 |
| I 70 At Mp 65 | 4 |
Garfield County at a glance
| Population | 63,167 |
| Land area | 2,947.4 sq mi |
| Density | 21 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $97,424 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Garfield 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 | 30 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 54 | +78% | 1.6 |
| 2010s | 38 | -28% | 1.0 |
| 2020s | 47 | +22% | 0.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 30 to 47. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Garfield County
ZIP codes in Garfield County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Garfield County
How many truck accidents are there in Garfield County?
Since 2015, 449 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Garfield County (221 injured, 16 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Garfield County?
Since 2015, I-70 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Garfield County: 3.
When do most truck crashes happen in Garfield County?
The worst month is December: 12.7% of truck crashes in Garfield County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Garfield County?
7 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Garfield County since 2015, 1.6% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Garfield County compared with Colorado?
Per 100,000 residents, Garfield County has 61.2 truck crashes a year; Colorado has 32.6.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Garfield County?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.