Howard County, MO truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Howard 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
1 of 37 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Howard County compares with Missouri
Howard County against Missouri and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Howard County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Howard County | Missouri | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 31.3 | 85.9 | 49.7 | 64% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.34 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 23% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.9% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 8.6% | 7.2% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 11.4% | 22.8% | 23.7% | 50% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 2.9% | 10.7% | 13.8% | 73% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.0% | 40.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 8.6% | 24.7% | 24.8% | 65% below the state |
Compared with Missouri, Howard County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Howard County: October worst month: 16.2% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Since 2015, 37 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Howard County. They injured 14 people and killed 1.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 115 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in October (16.2% of the year) and are lowest in July (2.7%).
November through March accounts for 40.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.7% in Missouri.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (16.2%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 8.6% of truck crashes, compared with 7.2% in Missouri.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes in Howard County since 2015 were spread across roads: SR-5 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 2.7% of the total, against 2.2% across Missouri.
Route planning tips for Howard County fleets
- Build extra time into October routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- With 8.6% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Missouri), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Howard County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Howard County) |
|---|---|
| SR-5 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Howard County) |
|---|---|
| Mo 5 | 8 |
| Mo 240 | 7 |
| Mo 124 | 3 |
| US-40 | 3 |
| Mo 87 | 2 |
| Rt A | 2 |
| Rt Ee | 2 |
| Rt P | 2 |
Howard County at a glance
| Population | 10,150 |
| Land area | 463.8 sq mi |
| Density | 22 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $62,384 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Howard 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 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 3 | -37% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 2 | -4% | 0.1 |
| 2020s | 4 | +60% | 0.2 |
In the 1990s about 4 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 4. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.0 a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Howard County
ZIP codes in Howard County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Howard County
How many truck crashes happen in Howard County?
Howard County has had 37 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 14 people and killing 1.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Howard County?
Truck crashes in Howard County peak in October, with 16.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Howard County?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Howard County since 2015, 2.7% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Howard County compare with Missouri?
Per 100,000 residents, Howard County has 31.3 truck crashes a year; Missouri has 85.9.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Howard County?
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.