Meade County, KS truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Meade 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 121 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Meade County compares with Kansas
Meade County against Kansas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Meade County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Meade County | Kansas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 271.0 | 61.4 | 49.7 | 4.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 18.1 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 3.8× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.32 | 0.49 | 1.5× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 12.9% | 9.3% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 16.4% | 23.1% | 23.7% | 29% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.7% | 15.2% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.1% | 42.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 32.8% | 23.2% | 24.8% | 1.4× the state |
Compared with Kansas, Meade County is lower on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Meade County: 18.1 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 4.8 across Kansas.
Overview
Police reported 121 crashes involving commercial trucks in Meade County since 2015: 56 people were injured and 21 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 35 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is June with 13.2% of truck crashes; the quietest is July at 2.5%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.1% of truck crashes, against 42.2% across Kansas.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 7.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 12.9% of truck crashes, compared with 9.3% in Kansas.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Meade County is US-54, with 8 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come CR-26 Rd (1), US-160 (1) and US-50 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
FMCSA lists no garbage-truck crashes in Meade County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Meade County fleets
- Review driver schedules for June, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to US-54 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 12.9% of truck crashes here, more than Kansas; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Meade County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Meade County) |
|---|---|
| US-54 | 8 |
| CR-26 Rd | 1 |
| US-160 | 1 |
| US-50 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Meade County) |
|---|---|
| Carthage | 3 |
| Indiana | 2 |
| County Road 26 | 1 |
| County Road L | 1 |
| Fowler | 1 |
| Main | 1 |
| Meade Co Road 2 | 1 |
| Meade Co Road 26 | 1 |
Meade County at a glance
| Population | 3,892 |
| Land area | 978.1 sq mi |
| Density | 4 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $70,696 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Meade 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 | 6 | — | 0.7 |
| 2000s | 8 | +42% | 0.7 |
| 2010s | 8 | +0% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 12 | +48% | 0.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 6 a year in the 1990s and 12 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 1.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Meade County
ZIP codes in Meade County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Meade County
How common are truck crashes in Meade County?
Meade County has had 121 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 56 people and killing 21.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Meade County?
Since 2015, US-54 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Meade County: 8.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Meade County?
June has the most truck crashes in Meade County, 13.2% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Meade County?
Since 2015, Meade County has reported 0 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.0% of its truck crashes.
How does Meade County compare with Kansas for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Meade County has 271.0 truck crashes a year; Kansas has 61.4.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Meade 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.