Missoula, MT truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Missoula: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Missoula and Missoula County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Missoula County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 402 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Missoula County compares with Montana
Missoula County against Montana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Missoula County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Missoula County | Montana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 28.4 | 64.3 | 49.7 | 56% below 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 | 0.3% | 0.9% | 2.3% | 72% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 33.4% | 39.4% | 6.2% | 15% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.4% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 11% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 19.8% | 20.6% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.0% | 54.3% | 41.9% | 12% below the state |
| After dark | 35.2% | 30.8% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Missoula County has lower values than Montana for crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: after dark.
The headline for Missoula County: 1 in 385 garbage-truck share of crashes is 0.3%, against 0.9% for Montana.
Overview
Since 2015, 402 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Missoula County. They injured 121 people and killed 14.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 10 days.
With 7 truck crashes reported in Missoula since 2015, this page uses Missoula County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
90% of truck crash reports in Missoula County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 12.7% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (5.2%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 48.0% of truck crashes, vs 54.3% for Montana.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 7.7% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 33.4% of truck crashes, compared with 39.4% in Montana.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Missoula is I-90, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: Bus-Us-93 Orange St (1), Mullan Rd (1) and S Orange St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 0.2% of the total, against 0.9% across Montana.
Route planning tips for Missoula fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-90 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 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 Missoula County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 3 |
| Bus-Us-93 Orange St | 1 |
| Mullan Rd | 1 |
| S Orange St | 1 |
| US-12 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Missoula County) |
|---|---|
| Brooks And Higgins | 1 |
| Brow Tine Drive | 1 |
| Gn2963 | 1 |
| Gn770 | 1 |
| I-90 | 1 |
| Mm 110.3 I-90 | 1 |
| Mm 113.2 I-90 | 1 |
| Mm 123.1 I-90 | 1 |
Missoula at a glance
| Population | 78,204 |
| Land area | 35.0 sq mi |
| Density | 2,233 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 59801) | $58,347 |
| Median home value (ZIP 59801) | $442,100 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Missoula 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 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 38 | +5570% | 1.7 |
| 2010s | 31 | -18% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 34 | +9% | 1.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 1 a year in the 1990s and 34 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.0 a year in 2016–19, 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Missoula
How many truck crashes happen in Missoula?
Since 2015, 402 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Missoula County (121 injured, 14 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Missoula?
I-90 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Missoula since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Missoula?
The worst month is December: 12.7% of truck crashes in Missoula County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Missoula?
Since 2015, Missoula County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 0.2% of its truck crashes.
How does Missoula compare with Montana for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Missoula County has 28.4 truck crashes a year; Montana has 64.3.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Missoula?
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.