Charleston, MO truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Charleston: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Charleston and Mississippi County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Mississippi County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 326 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Mississippi County compares with Missouri
Mississippi County against Missouri and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Mississippi County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Mississippi County | Missouri | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 236.0 | 85.9 | 49.7 | 2.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.2 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 2.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.46 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.3% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 85% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 16.1% | 7.2% | 6.2% | 2.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 33.4% | 22.8% | 23.7% | 1.5× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.5% | 10.7% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 62.6% | 40.7% | 41.9% | 1.5× the state |
| After dark | 31.1% | 24.7% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Compared with Missouri, Mississippi County is lower on garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Mississippi County: March the month with the most truck crashes: 25.8% of the year's total.
Overview
Mississippi County has recorded 326 truck crashes since 2015, with 152 people injured and 19 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 13 days in fully reported years.
Only 92 truck crashes were reported in Charleston since 2015; patterns below come from Mississippi County as a whole.
When crashes happen
The worst month is March with 25.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 3.7%.
November through March accounts for 62.6% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.7% in Missouri.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 18.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 16.1% of truck crashes, compared with 7.2% in Missouri.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-57 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (8). Next come SR-77 (1) and Sr-B (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.3% share (Missouri: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for Charleston fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-57 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 33.4% of truck crashes here, more than Missouri; adjust start times where you can.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 16.1% of truck crashes here, more than Missouri; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Mississippi County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-57 | 8 |
| SR-77 | 1 |
| Sr-B | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Mississippi County) |
|---|---|
| Is 57 | 229 |
| US-60 | 33 |
| Mo 105 | 11 |
| US-62 | 10 |
| Mo 80 | 8 |
| Mo 77 | 5 |
| Mo 102 | 4 |
| Rt B | 4 |
Charleston at a glance
| Population | 4,447 |
| Land area | 4.8 sq mi |
| Density | 927 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 63834) | $41,348 |
| Median home value (ZIP 63834) | $111,320 |
Historical data: truck crashes in Mississippi 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 | 16 | — | 1.0 |
| 2000s | 10 | -39% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 16 | +67% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 34 | +107% | 1.4 |
In the 1990s about 16 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 34. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Charleston
How many truck crashes happen in Charleston?
Mississippi County has had 326 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 152 people and killing 19.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Charleston?
NHTSA data shows I-57 with 8 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Charleston since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Charleston?
March has the most truck crashes in Mississippi County, 25.8% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Charleston?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Mississippi County since 2015, 0.3% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Charleston compared with Missouri?
Per 100,000 residents, Mississippi County has 236.0 truck crashes a year; Missouri has 85.9.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Charleston?
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.