Putnam County, IN 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
16 of 700 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Putnam County compares with Indiana
Putnam County against Indiana 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 | Indiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 153.9 | 80.8 | 49.7 | 1.9× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 1.7 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 41% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.37 | 0.36 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.3% | 2.4% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 17.0% | 10.6% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 18.1% | 22.4% | 23.7% | 19% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 25.5% | 17.4% | 13.8% | 1.5× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.9% | 42.7% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 30.3% | 32.0% | 24.8% | same |
Putnam County sits below Indiana on deaths per 100 crashes and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Indiana on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
Putnam County at a glance: 17.0% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 10.6% across Indiana.
Overview
Since 2015, 700 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Putnam County. They injured 244 people and killed 12.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 6 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 12.7% of truck crashes; the quietest is September at 5.9%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 46.9% of truck crashes, vs 42.7% for Indiana.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 8.0% of truck crashes.
17.0% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 10.6% across Indiana.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck in Putnam County since 2015: I-70 (2), I-70W (2), US-40 (2), CR-250 E (1) and US-231N (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 16 crashes, 2.3% of the total, against 2.4% across Indiana.
Route planning tips for Putnam County fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Putnam County.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 17.0% of truck crashes here, more than Indiana; schedule winter 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 Putnam County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Putnam County) |
|---|---|
| I-70 | 2 |
| I-70W | 2 |
| US-40 | 2 |
| CR-250 E | 1 |
| US-231N | 1 |
| US-40W | 1 |
| West Walnut | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Putnam County) |
|---|---|
| I-70 | 276 |
| US-231 | 32 |
| I-70 West | 25 |
| US-231S | 22 |
| I-70 East | 21 |
| I-70E | 20 |
| US-40 | 19 |
| I-70W | 18 |
Putnam County at a glance
| Population | 37,804 |
| Land area | 480.5 sq mi |
| Density | 79 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $74,386 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
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 | 14 | — | 1.1 |
| 2000s | 30 | +119% | 1.5 |
| 2010s | 51 | +72% | 1.6 |
| 2020s | 59 | +15% | 0.8 |
In the 1990s about 14 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 59. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 1.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 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?
700 truck crashes have been reported in Putnam County since 2015, with 12 deaths and 244 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Putnam County?
January has the most truck crashes in Putnam County, 12.7% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Putnam County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 16 reported crashes in Putnam County since 2015 (2.3% of truck crashes).
How does Putnam County compare with Indiana for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Putnam County has 153.9 truck crashes a year; Indiana has 80.8.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Putnam County?
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.