Louisiana truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Louisiana: 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
2.7 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Louisiana compares with United States
Louisiana against United States, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Louisiana stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Louisiana | United States | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 81.5 | 49.7 | 1.6× the US |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.0 | 3.4 | 12% below the US |
| Injuries per crash | 0.77 | 0.49 | 1.6× the US |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.2% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.8% | 6.2% | 88% below the US |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.6% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.5% | 13.8% | 24% below the US |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.3% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.9% | 24.8% | same |
Louisiana has lower values than the US for deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr and injuries per crash.
The headline for Louisiana: 0.8% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 6.2% in the US.
Overview
Since 2015, 44,242 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Louisiana. They injured 33,360 people and killed 1,305.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 10 truck crashes a day.
When crashes happen
The worst month is September with 9.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 7.4%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.3% of truck crashes, vs 41.9% for the US.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 6.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.8% of truck crashes, compared with 6.2% in the US.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Louisiana is I-10, with 125 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come I-20 (58), I-12 (47) and I-49 (33).
Garbage & waste trucks
954 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.2% share (the US: 2.3%).
Their busiest month is September, with 10% of garbage-truck crashes.
They recorded 2.7 deaths per 100 crashes, against 3.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Louisiana fleets
- Build extra time into September routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-10, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: September is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Louisiana.
- 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 Louisiana
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Louisiana) |
|---|---|
| I-10 | 125 |
| I-20 | 58 |
| I-12 | 47 |
| I-49 | 33 |
| SR-1 | 33 |
| US-90 | 33 |
| US-190 | 31 |
| US-61 | 29 |
| US-167 | 18 |
| US-165 | 17 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Louisiana) |
|---|---|
| I-10 | 7,837 |
| I-20 | 3,198 |
| I-12 | 2,347 |
| US-90 | 2,070 |
| I-49 | 1,261 |
| US-190 | 1,217 |
| US-61 | 933 |
| La-1 | 931 |
Louisiana at a glance
| Population | 4,597,740 |
| Land area | 43,212.9 sq mi |
| Density | 106 per sq mi |
Historical data: truck crashes in Louisiana 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 | 919 | — | 99.6 |
| 2000s | 3,046 | +232% | 99.0 |
| 2010s | 3,611 | +19% | 80.9 |
| 2020s | 3,724 | +3% | 103.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 919 a year in the 1990s and 3,724 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 87.5 a year in 2016–19 and 103.0 a year in 2020–24.
Counties in Louisiana
Largest places in Louisiana
Nearby states
Questions fleets ask about Louisiana
How many truck crashes happen in Louisiana?
Since 2015, 44,242 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Louisiana (33,360 injured, 1,305 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Louisiana?
NHTSA data shows I-10 with 125 fatal large-truck crashes in Louisiana since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Louisiana?
Truck crashes in Louisiana peak in September, with 9.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Louisiana?
Since 2015, Louisiana has reported 954 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.2% of its truck crashes.
How does Louisiana compare with the US for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Louisiana has 81.5 truck crashes a year; the US has 49.7.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Louisiana?
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.