DeKalb, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in DeKalb: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in DeKalb and DeKalb County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use DeKalb County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
15 of 481 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How DeKalb County compares with Illinois
DeKalb County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where DeKalb County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | DeKalb County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 41.0 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 27% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.4 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.55 | 0.50 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 2.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 10.1% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.8% | 24.3% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.2% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 9% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.0% | 42.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.3% | 24.1% | 24.8% | 20% below the state |
Compared with Illinois, DeKalb County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in DeKalb County: 1 in 33 crashes involve a garbage truck (15 since 2015), vs 1.4% across Illinois.
Overview
DeKalb County has recorded 481 truck crashes since 2015, with 269 people injured and 22 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 9 days in fully reported years.
Only 147 truck crashes were reported in DeKalb since 2015; patterns below come from DeKalb County as a whole.
When crashes happen
July has the most truck crashes, 11.4% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (6.0%).
November through March accounts for 40.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.0% in Illinois.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (8.5%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 10.1% of truck crashes, compared with 9.0% in Illinois.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-23 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (4). After it: I-88 (3), Peace Rd (2) and SR-64 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 15 of the truck crashes here, or 3.1%, compared with 1.4% in Illinois.
Route planning tips for DeKalb fleets
- Review driver schedules for July, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-23; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 27.8% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Illinois; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 10.1% of truck crashes here, more than Illinois; schedule winter checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 DeKalb County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-23 | 4 |
| I-88 | 3 |
| Peace Rd | 2 |
| SR-64 | 2 |
| Lee Rd | 1 |
| Nelson Rd | 1 |
| Plank Rd | 1 |
| SR-38 | 1 |
| Sr- 23 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (DeKalb County) |
|---|---|
| I-88 | 56 |
| Peace Rd | 26 |
| State Rte 23 | 17 |
| E Lincoln Hwy | 15 |
| Perry Rd | 13 |
| S Peace Rd | 11 |
| State Rte 64 | 11 |
| Glidden Rd | 9 |
DeKalb at a glance
| Population | 40,491 |
| Land area | 17.5 sq mi |
| Density | 2,312 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 60115) | $47,043 |
| Median home value (ZIP 60115) | $207,652 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in DeKalb 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 | 15 | — | 1.0 |
| 2000s | 37 | +142% | 1.2 |
| 2010s | 38 | +3% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 44 | +16% | 3.2 |
In the 1990s about 15 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 44. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 3.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about DeKalb
How many truck crashes happen in DeKalb?
Since 2015, 481 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in DeKalb County (269 injured, 22 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in DeKalb?
NHTSA data shows SR-23 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of DeKalb since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in DeKalb?
Truck crashes in DeKalb County peak in July, with 11.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in DeKalb?
Garbage trucks were involved in 15 reported crashes in DeKalb County since 2015 (3.1% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in DeKalb compare with Illinois?
Per 100,000 residents, DeKalb County has 41.0 truck crashes a year; Illinois has 56.0.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in DeKalb?
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.