Chicago, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Chicago: 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 1.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Chicago compares with Illinois
Chicago against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Chicago stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Chicago | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 38.3 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 32% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.0 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 62% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.56 | 0.50 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.8% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.1% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 54% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.0% | 24.3% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.1% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 10% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.0% | 42.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.0% | 24.1% | 24.8% | same |
Chicago has lower values than Illinois for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
Chicago at a glance: I-294 deadliest road: 21 fatal truck crashes within 15 miles of Chicago since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 12,032 crashes involving commercial trucks in Chicago since 2015: 6,654 people were injured and 124 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 3 truck crashes every day.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in June (9.4% of the year) and are lowest in November (7.2%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.0% of truck crashes, vs 42.0% for Illinois.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 7.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 4.1% of truck crashes, compared with 9.0% in Illinois.
Where crashes happen
I-294 leads within 15 miles of Chicago with 21 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: I-55 (12), I-290 (11) and SR-50 (11).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 225 of the truck crashes here, or 1.9%, compared with 1.4% in Illinois.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in April (13% of them).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 0.0 deaths compared with 1.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Chicago fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Chicago.
- Where you can, review stops along I-294; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in April; review collection routes for that month.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Chicago
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-294 | 21 |
| I-55 | 12 |
| I-290 | 11 |
| SR-50 | 11 |
| I-94 | 8 |
| I-90 | 7 |
| I-57 | 6 |
| SR-43 | 6 |
| Roosevelt Rd | 5 |
| Pulaski Rd | 4 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Chicago) |
|---|---|
| I-94 | 559 |
| I-90 | 415 |
| S Western Ave | 254 |
| Dan Ryan Expy | 219 |
| S Cicero Ave | 190 |
| I-55 | 170 |
| S Pulaski Rd | 164 |
| S Ashland Ave | 151 |
Chicago at a glance
| Population | 2,721,308 |
| Land area | 227.7 sq mi |
| Density | 11,949 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 60608) | $73,366 |
| Median home value (ZIP 60608) | $359,353 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Chicago 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 | 484 | — | 42.5 |
| 2000s | 863 | +78% | 36.0 |
| 2010s | 1,059 | +23% | 20.9 |
| 2020s | 976 | -8% | 37.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 484 to 976. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. 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 Chicago
How many truck crashes happen in Chicago?
Since 2015, 12,032 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Chicago (6,654 injured, 124 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Chicago?
I-294 had 21 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 15 miles of Chicago since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Chicago?
Truck crashes in Chicago peak in June, with 9.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Chicago?
Garbage trucks were involved in 225 reported crashes in Chicago since 2015 (1.9% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Chicago compared with Illinois?
Chicago records 38.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 56.0 across Illinois.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Chicago?
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.