Beaverhead County, MT truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Beaverhead 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
3 of 169 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Beaverhead County compares with Montana
Beaverhead County against Montana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Beaverhead County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Beaverhead County | Montana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 146.3 | 64.3 | 49.7 | 2.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.30 | 0.34 | 0.49 | 12% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.2% | 0.9% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 34.8% | 39.4% | 6.2% | 12% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.5% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 10% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 21.7% | 20.6% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 52.8% | 54.3% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 39.1% | 30.8% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Beaverhead County has lower values than Montana for injuries per crash, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and after dark.
What stands out in Beaverhead County: I-15 deadliest road: 4 fatal truck crashes in Beaverhead County since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 169 crashes involving commercial trucks in Beaverhead County since 2015: 52 people were injured and 6 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 25 days.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 12.4% of the yearly total, while July has the fewest (5.3%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 52.8% of truck crashes, vs 54.3% for Montana.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 7.7% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 34.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Montana: 39.4%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-15 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (4). Next come SR-278 (1), SR-41 (1) and SR-43 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
3 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.8% share (Montana: 0.9%).
Route planning tips for Beaverhead County fleets
- Build extra time into February routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-15, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Beaverhead County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Beaverhead County) |
|---|---|
| I-15 | 4 |
| SR-278 | 1 |
| SR-41 | 1 |
| SR-43 | 1 |
| Sr- Mt 915 | 1 |
| Ssr-278 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Beaverhead County) |
|---|---|
| Mm 19.8 I-15 | 1 |
| Mm 2.3 Hwy 278 | 1 |
| Mm 2.5 Hwy 278 | 1 |
| Mm 23.1 I-15 | 1 |
| Mm 32.1 I-15 | 1 |
| Mm 4.4 Hwy 43 | 1 |
| Mm 41.3 I-15 | 1 |
| Mm 50.9 Mt 278 | 1 |
Beaverhead County at a glance
| Population | 10,006 |
| Land area | 5,542.7 sq mi |
| Density | 2 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $61,749 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Beaverhead 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 | — | — | 0.3 |
| 2000s | 9 | — | 0.0 |
| 2010s | 10 | +9% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 17 | +79% | 1.0 |
From the 2000s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 9 to 17. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.0 a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Beaverhead County
ZIP codes in Beaverhead County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Beaverhead County
How many truck accidents are there in Beaverhead County?
Since 2015, 169 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Beaverhead County (52 injured, 6 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Beaverhead County?
Since 2015, I-15 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Beaverhead County: 4.
When do most truck crashes happen in Beaverhead County?
The worst month is February: 12.4% of truck crashes in Beaverhead County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Beaverhead County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 3 reported crashes in Beaverhead County since 2015 (1.8% of truck crashes).
How does Beaverhead County compare with Montana for truck crashes?
Beaverhead County records 146.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 64.3 across Montana.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Beaverhead County?
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.