Putnam County, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Putnam 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
0 of 52 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Putnam County compares with Illinois
Putnam County against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Putnam County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Putnam County | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 83.9 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 1.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 9.6 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 3.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.58 | 0.50 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 11.5% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.8% | 24.3% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.4% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 14% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.2% | 42.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 5.8% | 24.1% | 24.8% | 76% below the state |
Putnam County sits below Illinois on garbage-truck share, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It runs above Illinois on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Putnam County: 9.6 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 2.6 in Illinois.
Overview
Putnam County has recorded 52 truck crashes since 2015, with 30 people injured and 5 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 77 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is September with 15.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 1.9%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 44.2% of truck crashes, against 42.0% across Illinois.
More truck crashes happen at 10–11 am than at any other hour (17.3%).
11.5% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 9.0% across Illinois.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck in Putnam County happened on SR-89 (2), SR-26 (1) and Sr- 18 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
FMCSA lists no garbage-truck crashes in Putnam County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Putnam County fleets
- Build extra time into September routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 28.8% of truck crashes here, more than Illinois; adjust start times where you can.
- 11.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Illinois; 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
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 Putnam County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Putnam County) |
|---|---|
| SR-89 | 2 |
| SR-26 | 1 |
| Sr- 18 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Putnam County) |
|---|---|
| Il 18 | 2 |
| Il 89 N/B | 2 |
| Il Hwy 26 | 2 |
| Prairie Industrial Pky | 2 |
| Bottom Rd | 1 |
| I-180 | 1 |
| Il 29 | 1 |
| Il Rt 18 | 1 |
Putnam County at a glance
| Population | 5,633 |
| Land area | 160.1 sq mi |
| Density | 35 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $78,714 |
Historical data: truck crashes in Putnam 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 | 2 | — | 0.0 |
| 2000s | 2 | +14% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 5 | +147% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 4 | -22% | 0.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 2 a year in the 1990s and 4 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Putnam County
ZIP codes in Putnam County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Putnam County
How many truck accidents are there in Putnam County?
52 truck crashes have been reported in Putnam County since 2015, with 5 deaths and 30 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Putnam County?
The worst month is September: 15.4% of truck crashes in Putnam County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Putnam County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 0 reported crashes in Putnam County since 2015 (0.0% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Putnam County compared with Illinois?
Per 100,000 residents, Putnam County has 83.9 truck crashes a year; Illinois has 56.0.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Putnam 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.