Pinnacle, MT truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Pinnacle: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Pinnacle and Flathead County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Flathead County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
9 of 379 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Flathead County compares with Montana
Flathead County against Montana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Flathead County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Flathead County | Montana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 27.5 | 64.3 | 49.7 | 57% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.4 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.34 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.6% | 0.9% | 2.3% | 2.8× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 20.2% | 39.4% | 6.2% | 49% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.2% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.6% | 20.6% | 13.8% | 34% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 37.3% | 54.3% | 41.9% | 31% below the state |
| After dark | 16.2% | 30.8% | 24.8% | 47% below the state |
Compared with Montana, Flathead County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Montana on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Flathead County: 1 in 38 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 2.6%, vs 0.9% in Montana.
Overview
Flathead County has recorded 379 truck crashes since 2015, with 152 people injured and 23 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 12 days.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in Pinnacle since 2015; patterns below come from Flathead County as a whole.
84% of truck crash reports in Flathead County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
July has the most truck crashes, 11.9% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (4.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 37.3% of truck crashes, vs 54.3% for Montana.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 9.8% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 20.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Montana: 39.4%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Pinnacle since 2015: US-2 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 9 crashes, 2.4% of the total, against 0.9% across Montana.
Route planning tips for Pinnacle fleets
- Review driver schedules for July, the month with the most truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 27.2% of truck crashes here, more than Montana; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 Flathead County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-2 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Flathead County) |
|---|---|
| US-2 | 4 |
| Church Dr | 2 |
| Helena Flats Rd | 2 |
| Truck Route 9Th St | 2 |
| 1St Ave E / 11Th St | 1 |
| Blacktail Heights | 1 |
| Blacktail Rd | 1 |
| Glenwood Dr | 1 |
Pinnacle at a glance
| Land area | 0.6 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 59916) | $60,250 |
| Median home value (ZIP 59916) | $391,717 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Flathead 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 | — | — | 1.4 |
| 2000s | 39 | — | 1.3 |
| 2010s | 27 | -30% | 1.6 |
| 2020s | 33 | +22% | 2.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 39 a year in the 2000s and 33 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 2.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Pinnacle
How many truck accidents are there in Pinnacle?
Since 2015, 379 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Flathead County (152 injured, 23 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Pinnacle?
July has the most truck crashes in Flathead County, 11.9% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Pinnacle?
9 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Flathead County since 2015, 2.4% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Pinnacle compare with Montana?
Flathead County records 27.5 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 64.3 across Montana.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Pinnacle?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.