Shoals, IN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Shoals: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Shoals and Martin County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Martin County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
2 of 107 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Martin County compares with Indiana
Martin County against Indiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Martin County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Martin County | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 87.6 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.3 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 2.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.35 | 0.36 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.1% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 10% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.2% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 70% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.1% | 22.4% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.8% | 17.4% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.2% | 42.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 22.1% | 32.0% | 24.8% | 31% below the state |
Martin County sits below Indiana on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and after dark. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr and deaths per 100 crashes.
The headline for Martin County: 6.3 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 2.9 in Indiana.
Overview
Martin County has recorded 107 truck crashes since 2015, with 36 people injured and 6 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 42 days in fully reported years.
With 50 truck crashes reported in Shoals since 2015, this page uses Martin County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 11.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 3.7%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.2% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Indiana.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 9.3% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 3.2% of truck crashes, compared with 10.6% in Indiana.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-50 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). It is followed by Us- 50 (1) and Windom Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 2 of the truck crashes here, or 1.9%, compared with 2.4% in Indiana.
Route planning tips for Shoals fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along US-50; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Martin County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-50 | 3 |
| Us- 50 | 1 |
| Windom Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Martin County) |
|---|---|
| US-231 | 22 |
| US-50E | 15 |
| US-50 | 14 |
| US-150 | 8 |
| US-50W | 7 |
| US-231N | 4 |
| Us-Hwy 50 | 3 |
| US-231S | 3 |
Shoals at a glance
| Population | 676 |
| Land area | 1.8 sq mi |
| Density | 371 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 47581) | $59,776 |
| Median home value (ZIP 47581) | $134,944 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Martin 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 | 4 | — | 0.9 |
| 2000s | 14 | +209% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 10 | -24% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 8 | -21% | 0.6 |
In the 1990s about 4 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 8. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Shoals
How many truck accidents are there in Shoals?
Since 2015, 107 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Martin County (36 injured, 6 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Shoals?
Since 2015, US-50 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Shoals: 3.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Shoals?
Truck crashes in Martin County peak in January, with 11.2% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Shoals?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in Martin County since 2015 (1.9% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Shoals compared with Indiana?
The yearly rate is 87.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Martin County, vs 80.8 for Indiana.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Shoals?
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.