West Glacier, MT truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in West Glacier: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in West Glacier 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 |
Flathead County sits below Montana on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher 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
Since 2015, 379 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Flathead County. They injured 152 people and killed 23.
That averages about one truck crash every 12 days in fully reported years.
Only 0 truck crashes were reported in West Glacier 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
The worst month is July with 11.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is February at 4.7%.
November through March accounts for 37.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 54.3% in Montana.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 9.8% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 20.2% of truck crashes, compared with 39.4% in Montana.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of West Glacier since 2015 were spread across roads: US-2 (2) and Us- 2 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 9 of the truck crashes here, or 2.4%, compared with 0.9% in Montana.
Route planning tips for West Glacier fleets
- Build extra time into July routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 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 | 2 |
| 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 |
West Glacier at a glance
| Land area | 4.1 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 59913) | $44,464 |
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. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.8 a year in 2016–19, 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about West Glacier
How common are truck crashes in West Glacier?
Flathead County has had 379 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 152 people and killing 23.
When do most truck crashes happen in West Glacier?
The worst month is July: 11.9% of truck crashes in Flathead County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in West Glacier?
Since 2015, Flathead County has reported 9 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.4% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in West Glacier compared 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 West Glacier?
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.