Illinois truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Illinois: 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
1.4 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Illinois compares with United States
Illinois against United States, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Illinois stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Illinois | United States | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 56.0 | 49.7 | 1.1× the US |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.6 | 3.4 | 24% below the US |
| Injuries per crash | 0.50 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.4% | 2.3% | 42% below the US |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.0% | 6.2% | 1.5× the US |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.3% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 17.9% | 13.8% | 1.3× the US |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.1% | 24.8% | same |
Illinois has lower values than the US for deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share. It runs above the US on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
Illinois at a glance: I-55 deadliest road: 92 fatal truck crashes in Illinois since 2015.
Overview
Illinois has recorded 82,885 truck crashes since 2015, with 41,544 people injured and 2,112 killed.
That averages about 19 truck crashes a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (9.4% of the year) and are lowest in April (7.3%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.0% of truck crashes, vs 41.9% for the US.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 7.0% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 9.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (the US: 6.2%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Illinois is I-55, with 92 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come I-57 (84), I-80 (52) and I-70 (45).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 1,123 of the truck crashes here, or 1.4%, compared with 2.3% in the US.
Their busiest month is December, with 10% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 1.4 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.6 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Illinois fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Illinois.
- Where you can, review stops along I-55; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in December; review collection routes for that month.
- 9.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above the US; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Illinois
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Illinois) |
|---|---|
| I-55 | 92 |
| I-57 | 84 |
| I-80 | 52 |
| I-70 | 45 |
| I-74 | 33 |
| I-94 | 31 |
| I-294 | 30 |
| I-64 | 25 |
| I-90 | 24 |
| US-45 | 23 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Illinois) |
|---|---|
| I-55 | 3,528 |
| I-57 | 3,209 |
| I-294 | 2,903 |
| I-80 | 2,456 |
| I-70 | 1,652 |
| I-90 | 1,599 |
| I-94 | 1,335 |
| I-74 | 1,235 |
Illinois at a glance
| Population | 12,710,158 |
| Land area | 55,513.1 sq mi |
| Density | 229 per sq mi |
Historical data: truck crashes in Illinois 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 | 3,338 | — | 158.1 |
| 2000s | 5,816 | +74% | 143.1 |
| 2010s | 6,531 | +12% | 118.1 |
| 2020s | 7,132 | +9% | 164.8 |
In the 1990s about 3,338 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 7,132. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 136.0 a year in 2016–19, 164.8 a year in 2020–24.
Counties in Illinois
Largest places in Illinois
Nearby states
Questions fleets ask about Illinois
How many truck crashes happen in Illinois?
Illinois has had 82,885 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 41,544 people and killing 2,112.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Illinois?
Since 2015, I-55 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Illinois: 92.
When do most truck crashes happen in Illinois?
January has the most truck crashes in Illinois, 9.4% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Illinois?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1,123 reported crashes in Illinois since 2015 (1.4% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Illinois compared with the US?
The yearly rate is 56.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Illinois, vs 49.7 for the US.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Illinois?
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.