Rockford, IL truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Rockford: 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
17 of 753 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Rockford compares with Illinois
Rockford against Illinois and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Rockford stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Rockford | Illinois | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 43.7 | 56.0 | 49.7 | 22% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.3 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 12% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.49 | 0.50 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.1% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 6.6% | 9.0% | 6.2% | 26% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.0% | 24.3% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.1% | 17.9% | 13.8% | 10% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.1% | 42.0% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.2% | 24.1% | 24.8% | 12% below the state |
Rockford has lower values than Illinois for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above Illinois on garbage-truck share.
Rockford at a glance: 1.8× fatal truck crashes within 15 miles of Rockford per year, 2020–24 vs 2016–19 (4.0 vs 2.2).
Overview
Since 2015, 753 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Rockford. They injured 361 people and killed 16.
That averages about one truck crash every 6 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 12.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 6.2%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.1% of truck crashes, vs 42.0% for Illinois.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 10.2% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 6.6% of truck crashes, compared with 9.0% in Illinois.
Where crashes happen
I-39 leads within 15 miles of Rockford with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by I-90 (4), SR-251 (4) and SR-2 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 17 crashes, 2.3% of the total, against 1.4% across Illinois.
Route planning tips for Rockford fleets
- Review driver schedules for August, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along I-39; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 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 Rockford
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-39 | 5 |
| I-90 | 4 |
| SR-251 | 4 |
| SR-2 | 3 |
| SR-76 | 2 |
| US-20 | 2 |
| 11th St | 1 |
| CR-21 Telegraph Rd | 1 |
| CR-5 Stone Quarry Rd | 1 |
| Falcon Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Rockford) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 104 |
| I-39 | 50 |
| 11Th St | 29 |
| Harrison Ave | 28 |
| E State St | 23 |
| US-20 | 21 |
| S Alpine Rd | 18 |
| N Alpine Rd | 16 |
Rockford at a glance
| Population | 147,486 |
| Land area | 65.3 sq mi |
| Density | 2,258 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Rockford 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 | 21 | — | 3.9 |
| 2000s | 49 | +136% | 2.3 |
| 2010s | 64 | +31% | 2.1 |
| 2020s | 64 | +1% | 3.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 21 a year in the 1990s and 64 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.0 a year in 2016–19, 3.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Rockford
How many truck accidents are there in Rockford?
753 truck crashes have been reported in Rockford since 2015, with 16 deaths and 361 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Rockford?
NHTSA data shows I-39 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of Rockford since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Rockford?
August has the most truck crashes in Rockford, 12.6% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Rockford?
Since 2015, Rockford has reported 17 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.3% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Rockford compared with Illinois?
The yearly rate is 43.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Rockford, vs 56.0 for Illinois.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Rockford?
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.