Kansas City, MO truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Kansas City: 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
3.8 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Kansas City compares with Missouri
Kansas City against Missouri and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Kansas City stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Kansas City | Missouri | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 57.9 | 85.9 | 49.7 | 33% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.3 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 15% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.58 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.4% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.7% | 7.2% | 6.2% | 35% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.6% | 22.8% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.5% | 10.7% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.0% | 40.7% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 19.6% | 24.7% | 24.8% | 21% below the state |
Compared with Missouri, Kansas City is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above Missouri on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Kansas City: I-435 deadliest road: 30 fatal truck crashes within 15 miles of Kansas City since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 3,519 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Kansas City. They injured 2,046 people and killed 82.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
When crashes happen
The worst month is June with 9.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is December at 6.8%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 38.0% of truck crashes, vs 40.7% for Missouri.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 7.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 4.7% of truck crashes, compared with 7.2% in Missouri.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-435 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (30). Next come I-70 (14), I-35 (8) and I-29 (4).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 83 of the truck crashes here, or 2.4%, compared with 2.2% in Missouri.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in May (14%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 3.8, vs 2.3 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Kansas City fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Kansas City.
- Look at alternatives to I-435 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: May is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Kansas City.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 24.6% of truck crashes here, more than Missouri; adjust start times where you can.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Kansas City
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-435 | 30 |
| I-70 | 14 |
| I-35 | 8 |
| I-29 | 4 |
| SR-32 | 4 |
| US-71 | 4 |
| Bannister Rd | 3 |
| I-470 | 3 |
| Prospect Ave | 3 |
| US-24 | 3 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Kansas City) |
|---|---|
| Is 435 | 576 |
| Is 70 | 426 |
| US-71 | 280 |
| Is 670 | 179 |
| Is 35 | 175 |
| Cst Front St | 83 |
| Cst Independence Ave | 79 |
| Is 470 | 56 |
Kansas City at a glance
| Population | 516,032 |
| Land area | 314.5 sq mi |
| Density | 1,641 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Kansas City 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 | — | — | 6.4 |
| 2000s | 155 | — | 7.1 |
| 2010s | 168 | +8% | 6.4 |
| 2020s | 368 | +120% | 8.6 |
From the 2000s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 155 to 368. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 7.5 a year in 2016–19, 8.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Kansas City
How many truck crashes happen in Kansas City?
Kansas City has had 3,519 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 2,046 people and killing 82.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Kansas City?
Since 2015, I-435 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of Kansas City: 30.
When do most truck crashes happen in Kansas City?
Truck crashes in Kansas City peak in June, with 9.6% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Kansas City?
83 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Kansas City since 2015, 2.4% of all truck crashes.
How does Kansas City compare with Missouri for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 57.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Kansas City, vs 85.9 for Missouri.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Kansas City?
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.