McHenry County, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in McHenry 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
2.9 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.9 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How McHenry County compares with Illinois
McHenry County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where McHenry County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | McHenry County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 29.7 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 47% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.50 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.3% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 2.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 12.0% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.8% | 24.3% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.3% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 9% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.2% | 42.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 16.4% | 24.1% | 24.8% | 32% below the state |
McHenry County sits below Illinois on crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
McHenry County at a glance: 1 in 30 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 3.3%, vs 1.4% in Illinois.
Overview
McHenry County has recorded 1,104 truck crashes since 2015, with 530 people injured and 30 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
When crashes happen
July has the most truck crashes, 10.5% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (6.0%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.2% of truck crashes, against 42.0% across Illinois.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 8.3% of truck crashes.
12.0% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 9.0% across Illinois.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck in McHenry County since 2015: SR-176 (3), SR-23 (3), US-20 (3), I-90 (2) and CR-31 Harmony Rd (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
36 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.3% share (Illinois: 1.4%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in January (17%).
They recorded 2.9 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.9 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for McHenry County fleets
- Build extra time into July routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at January schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- Morning starts matter: 27.8% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Illinois.
- With 12.0% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Illinois), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 McHenry County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in McHenry County) |
|---|---|
| SR-176 | 3 |
| SR-23 | 3 |
| US-20 | 3 |
| I-90 | 2 |
| CR-31 Harmony Rd | 1 |
| CR-A44 | 1 |
| Michigan Dr | 1 |
| Ringwood Rd | 1 |
| SR-31 | 1 |
| SR-47 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (McHenry County) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 92 |
| US-14 | 48 |
| Il-31 | 47 |
| Il-176 | 40 |
| Il-47 | 24 |
| Algonquin Rd | 19 |
| US-20 | 19 |
| Illinois Route 47 | 16 |
McHenry County at a glance
| Population | 315,959 |
| Land area | 603.4 sq mi |
| Density | 524 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $106,081 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in McHenry 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 | 52 | — | 3.8 |
| 2000s | 80 | +54% | 3.1 |
| 2010s | 88 | +10% | 1.4 |
| 2020s | 92 | +4% | 1.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 52 to 92. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.2 a year in 2016–19 and 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in McHenry County
ZIP codes in McHenry County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about McHenry County
How common are truck crashes in McHenry County?
McHenry County has had 1,104 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 530 people and killing 30.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in McHenry County?
July has the most truck crashes in McHenry County, 10.5% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in McHenry County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 36 reported crashes in McHenry County since 2015 (3.3% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in McHenry County compared with Illinois?
McHenry County records 29.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 56.0 across Illinois.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in McHenry County?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.