Chouteau County, MT truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Chouteau 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
0 of 65 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Chouteau County compares with Montana
Chouteau County against Montana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Chouteau County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Chouteau County | Montana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 86.6 | 64.3 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 16.1 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 4.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.38 | 0.34 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 0.9% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 8.9% | 39.4% | 6.2% | 77% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.8% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 3.6% | 20.6% | 13.8% | 83% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.3% | 54.3% | 41.9% | 28% below the state |
| After dark | 12.5% | 30.8% | 24.8% | 59% below the state |
Chouteau County has lower values than Montana for garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Chouteau County: 16.1 people killed per 100 truck crashes (Montana: 3.8).
Overview
Since 2015, 65 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Chouteau County. They injured 24 people and killed 9.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 72 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in July (13.8% of the year) and are lowest in April (3.1%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 39.3% of truck crashes, against 54.3% across Montana.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (12.3%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 8.9% of truck crashes, compared with 39.4% in Montana.
Where crashes happen
US-87 leads in Chouteau County with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come SR-223 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
No crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Chouteau County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Chouteau County fleets
- Build extra time into July routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use US-87, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 26.8% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Montana; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Chouteau County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Chouteau County) |
|---|---|
| US-87 | 4 |
| SR-223 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Chouteau County) |
|---|---|
| Mm 80.3 Us Hwy 87 | 2 |
| Mm20.5 Us Highway 87 | 2 |
| Bootlegger Trl Nb Mp 29 | 1 |
| Mm 8.1 Mt Highway 80 | 1 |
| Mm47.3 Us87 | 1 |
| S Hwy 223 | 1 |
| Us Hwy 87 Mm 31.8 | 1 |
Chouteau County at a glance
| Population | 5,880 |
| Land area | 3,972.5 sq mi |
| Density | 1 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $64,722 |
Historical data: truck crashes in Chouteau 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 | — | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 4 | — | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 4 | +9% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 6 | +46% | 0.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 4 a year in the 2000s and 6 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.0 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Chouteau County
ZIP codes in Chouteau County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Chouteau County
How many truck crashes happen in Chouteau County?
Since 2015, 65 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Chouteau County (24 injured, 9 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Chouteau County?
NHTSA data shows US-87 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes in Chouteau County since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Chouteau County?
The worst month is July: 13.8% of truck crashes in Chouteau County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Chouteau County?
0 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Chouteau County since 2015, 0.0% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Chouteau County compare with Montana?
Per 100,000 residents, Chouteau County has 86.6 truck crashes a year; Montana has 64.3.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Chouteau 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.