DeSoto County, MS truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in DeSoto 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
4.2 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.1 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How DeSoto County compares with Mississippi
DeSoto County against Mississippi and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where DeSoto County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | DeSoto County | Mississippi | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 57.5 | 65.0 | 49.7 | 12% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.1 | 5.1 | 3.4 | 39% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.54 | 0.49 | 17% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.9% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.4% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 2.0× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.8% | 23.7% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.5% | 12.5% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.9% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.1% | 24.0% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Mississippi, DeSoto County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
DeSoto County at a glance: 3.4% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 1.7% across Mississippi.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,322 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in DeSoto County. They injured 605 people and killed 39.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (10.5% of the year) and are lowest in September (6.6%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.9% of truck crashes, vs 40.8% for Mississippi.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (7.9%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 3.4% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in Mississippi.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in DeSoto County is I-55, with 9 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: US-78 (6), SR-302 (2) and US-61 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
25 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.9% share (Mississippi: 1.6%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in October (16%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 4.2 deaths compared with 3.1 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for DeSoto County fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in DeSoto County.
- Check whether your routes use I-55, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at October schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 3.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Mississippi; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 DeSoto County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in DeSoto County) |
|---|---|
| I-55 | 9 |
| US-78 | 6 |
| SR-302 | 2 |
| US-61 | 2 |
| CR-FOGG Rd | 1 |
| Church Rd | 1 |
| I-22 | 1 |
| I-269 | 1 |
| I-69 | 1 |
| Stateline Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (DeSoto County) |
|---|---|
| Goodman Rd | 50 |
| Stateline Road | 39 |
| Stateline Rd | 34 |
| I-55 | 27 |
| Hacks Cross Rd | 27 |
| Church Road | 21 |
| Hacks Cross Road | 19 |
| Airways Blvd | 18 |
DeSoto County at a glance
| Population | 195,871 |
| Land area | 476.4 sq mi |
| Density | 411 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $85,500 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in DeSoto 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 | 29 | — | 3.3 |
| 2000s | 65 | +124% | 1.7 |
| 2010s | 91 | +40% | 2.0 |
| 2020s | 113 | +24% | 2.8 |
In the 1990s about 29 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 113. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.0 a year in 2016–19 and 2.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in DeSoto County
ZIP codes in DeSoto County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about DeSoto County
How common are truck crashes in DeSoto County?
DeSoto County has had 1,322 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 605 people and killing 39.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in DeSoto County?
I-55 had 9 fatal crashes involving a large truck in DeSoto County since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in DeSoto County?
The worst month is August: 10.5% of truck crashes in DeSoto County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in DeSoto County?
25 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in DeSoto County since 2015, 1.9% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in DeSoto County compared with Mississippi?
DeSoto County records 57.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 65.0 across Mississippi.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in DeSoto 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.