La Plata, MO truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in La Plata: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in La Plata and Macon County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Macon County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
14 of 294 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Macon County compares with Missouri
Macon County against Missouri and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Macon County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Macon County | Missouri | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 164.1 | 85.9 | 49.7 | 1.9× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.7 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.32 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 27% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.7% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 2.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.5% | 7.2% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.3% | 22.8% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.9% | 10.7% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 47.4% | 40.7% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 25.6% | 24.7% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Missouri, Macon County is lower on injuries per crash. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Macon County: 1 in 21 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 4.7%, vs 2.2% in Missouri.
Overview
Police reported 294 crashes involving commercial trucks in Macon County since 2015: 100 people were injured and 14 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 15 days in fully reported years.
Only 7 truck crashes were reported in La Plata since 2015; patterns below come from Macon County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is November with 12.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is September at 5.4%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 47.4% of truck crashes, vs 40.7% for Missouri.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (9.9%).
Road surface: 9.5% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Missouri: 7.2%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of La Plata since 2015 were spread across roads: US-63 (2) and SR-156 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
14 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 4.8% share (Missouri: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for La Plata fleets
- Build extra time into November routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 9.5% of truck crashes here, more than Missouri; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Macon County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-63 | 2 |
| SR-156 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Macon County) |
|---|---|
| US-36 | 130 |
| US-63 | 72 |
| Mo 156 | 13 |
| Rt C | 9 |
| Mo 3 | 9 |
| Bu 36 | 6 |
| Rt J | 6 |
| Rt M | 3 |
La Plata at a glance
| Population | 1,244 |
| Land area | 1.6 sq mi |
| Density | 783 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 63549) | $59,881 |
| Median home value (ZIP 63549) | $135,289 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Macon 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 | 19 | — | 0.7 |
| 2000s | 14 | -27% | 1.2 |
| 2010s | 18 | +29% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 26 | +48% | 1.2 |
In the 1990s about 19 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 26. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about La Plata
How common are truck crashes in La Plata?
294 truck crashes have been reported in Macon County since 2015, with 14 deaths and 100 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in La Plata?
November has the most truck crashes in Macon County, 12.9% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in La Plata?
Since 2015, Macon County has reported 14 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.8% of its truck crashes.
How does La Plata compare with Missouri for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Macon County has 164.1 truck crashes a year; Missouri has 85.9.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in La Plata?
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.