Arlington Heights, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Arlington Heights: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Arlington Heights and Cook County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Cook County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0.2 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Cook County compares with Illinois
Cook County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cook County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cook County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 49.0 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 12% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.3 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 50% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.53 | 0.50 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.4% | 1.4% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.7% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 37% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.5% | 24.3% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.7% | 17.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.6% | 42.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.0% | 24.1% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Illinois, Cook County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
Arlington Heights at a glance: 2.2× fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Arlington Heights per year, 2020–24 vs 2016–19 (9.0 vs 4.0).
Overview
Since 2015, 29,495 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Cook County. They injured 15,477 people and killed 367.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 7 truck crashes a day.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Arlington Heights since 2015, this page uses Cook County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is June with 9.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 7.4%.
November through March accounts for 40.6% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.0% in Illinois.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 7.2% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 5.7% of truck crashes, compared with 9.0% in Illinois.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Arlington Heights is I-94, with 8 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come I-294 (7), I-90 (7) and SR-83 (6).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 425 crashes, 1.4% of the total, against 1.4% across Illinois.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in May (11%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.2, vs 1.3 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Arlington Heights fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Cook County.
- Look at alternatives to I-94 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in May; review collection routes for that month.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Cook County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 8 |
| I-294 | 7 |
| I-90 | 7 |
| SR-83 | 6 |
| SR-72 | 3 |
| Lake Cook Rd | 2 |
| US-12 | 2 |
| US-14 | 2 |
| 836 W Ohare | 1 |
| Arlington Heights Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cook County) |
|---|---|
| I-294 | 2,877 |
| I-90 | 989 |
| I-94 | 802 |
| I-290 | 473 |
| I-55 | 458 |
| I-80 | 348 |
| S Cicero Ave | 339 |
| I-57 | 296 |
Arlington Heights at a glance
| Population | 75,596 |
| Land area | 16.6 sq mi |
| Density | 4,550 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 60004) | $128,979 |
| Median home value (ZIP 60004) | $423,857 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cook 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 | 1,033 | — | 42.5 |
| 2000s | 2,315 | +124% | 36.0 |
| 2010s | 2,360 | +2% | 20.9 |
| 2020s | 2,496 | +6% | 37.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 1,033 a year in the 1990s and 2,496 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 27.0 a year in 2016–19 and 37.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Arlington Heights
How many truck accidents are there in Arlington Heights?
29,495 truck crashes have been reported in Cook County since 2015, with 367 deaths and 15,477 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Arlington Heights?
NHTSA data shows I-94 with 8 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Arlington Heights since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Arlington Heights?
June has the most truck crashes in Cook County, 9.3% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Arlington Heights?
Since 2015, Cook County has reported 425 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.4% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Arlington Heights compared with Illinois?
The yearly rate is 49.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Cook County, vs 56.0 for Illinois.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Arlington Heights?
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.