Ponchatoula, LA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Ponchatoula: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Ponchatoula and Tangipahoa Parish, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Tangipahoa Parish numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4.8 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.9 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Tangipahoa Parish compares with Louisiana
Tangipahoa Parish against Louisiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Tangipahoa Parish stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Tangipahoa Parish | Louisiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 106.0 | 81.5 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.64 | 0.77 | 0.49 | 17% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.3% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 41% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.4% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 51% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.3% | 23.6% | 23.7% | 10% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.6% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.2% | 40.3% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 27.1% | 23.9% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Compared with Louisiana, Tangipahoa Parish is lower on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark.
What stands out in Ponchatoula: I-12 10 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of Ponchatoula.
Overview
Police reported 1,735 crashes involving commercial trucks in Tangipahoa Parish since 2015: 1,101 people were injured and 49 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 2 days.
With 15 truck crashes reported in Ponchatoula since 2015, this page uses Tangipahoa Parish numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
June has the most truck crashes, 10.6% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (6.7%).
November through March accounts for 38.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.3% in Louisiana.
The busiest hour is 1–2 pm, with 7.3% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.4% of truck crashes, compared with 0.8% in Louisiana.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Ponchatoula is I-12, with 10 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: I-55 (5), SR-22 (2) and US-190 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 23 of the truck crashes here, or 1.3%, compared with 2.2% in Louisiana.
Their busiest month is April, with 22% of garbage-truck crashes.
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 4.8 deaths compared with 2.9 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Ponchatoula fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Tangipahoa Parish.
- Where you can, review stops along I-12; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in April; review collection routes for that month.
- 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 Tangipahoa Parish
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-12 | 10 |
| I-55 | 5 |
| SR-22 | 2 |
| US-190 | 2 |
| SR-1040 | 1 |
| SR-1054 | 1 |
| SR-1065 | 1 |
| SR-3158 | 1 |
| SR-445 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Tangipahoa Parish) |
|---|---|
| I-12 | 600 |
| I-55 | 410 |
| US-51 | 136 |
| US-190 | 103 |
| La-445 | 56 |
| La-3158 | 38 |
| La-22 | 35 |
| La-16 | 29 |
Ponchatoula at a glance
| Population | 7,735 |
| Land area | 4.7 sq mi |
| Density | 1,639 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 70403) | $50,976 |
| Median home value (ZIP 70403) | $201,276 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Tangipahoa Parish 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 | 44 | — | 3.3 |
| 2000s | 99 | +127% | 3.5 |
| 2010s | 128 | +29% | 2.9 |
| 2020s | 155 | +21% | 5.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 44 a year in the 1990s and 155 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 3.8 a year in 2016–19 and 5.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Ponchatoula
How common are truck crashes in Ponchatoula?
Since 2015, 1,735 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Tangipahoa Parish (1,101 injured, 49 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Ponchatoula?
NHTSA data shows I-12 with 10 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Ponchatoula since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Ponchatoula?
Truck crashes in Tangipahoa Parish peak in June, with 10.6% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Ponchatoula?
23 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Tangipahoa Parish since 2015, 1.3% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Ponchatoula compare with Louisiana?
Per 100,000 residents, Tangipahoa Parish has 106.0 truck crashes a year; Louisiana has 81.5.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Ponchatoula?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.