Pondera County, MT truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Pondera 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
1 of 73 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Pondera County compares with Montana
Pondera County against Montana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Pondera County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Pondera County | Montana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 98.7 | 64.3 | 49.7 | 1.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.0 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 21% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.34 | 0.49 | 1.4× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.5% | 0.9% | 2.3% | 1.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 34.8% | 39.4% | 6.2% | 12% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 16.7% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 27% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.2% | 20.6% | 13.8% | 12% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 50.0% | 54.3% | 41.9% | 8% below the state |
| After dark | 16.7% | 30.8% | 24.8% | 46% below the state |
Pondera County has lower values than Montana for deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Pondera County: 1 in 66 garbage-truck share of crashes is 1.5%, against 0.9% for Montana.
Overview
Police reported 73 crashes involving commercial trucks in Pondera County since 2015: 31 people were injured and 2 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 61 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (13.7% of the year) and are lowest in June (2.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 50.0% of truck crashes, against 54.3% across Montana.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 16.4% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 34.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Montana: 39.4%).
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck in Pondera County happened on I-15 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 1 of the truck crashes here, or 1.4%, compared with 0.9% in Montana.
Route planning tips for Pondera County fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Pondera County.
- 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 Pondera County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Pondera County) |
|---|---|
| I-15 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Pondera County) |
|---|---|
| Mm 346.0 I-15 | 2 |
| Mm 333.9 Interstate 15 | 1 |
| Mm 346.8 I-15 | 1 |
| Mm 347.0 I-15 | 1 |
| Mm13.2 Us-91 | 1 |
| Mp 334.4 I-15 | 1 |
| Us89S Mm 87.4 | 1 |
Pondera County at a glance
| Population | 6,078 |
| Land area | 1,624.6 sq mi |
| Density | 4 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $52,731 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Pondera 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 | — | — | 0.1 |
| 2000s | 4 | — | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 5 | +27% | 0.0 |
| 2020s | 6 | +31% | 0.2 |
In the 2000s about 4 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 6. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.0 a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Pondera County
ZIP codes in Pondera County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Pondera County
How common are truck crashes in Pondera County?
Pondera County has had 73 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 31 people and killing 2.
When do most truck crashes happen in Pondera County?
March has the most truck crashes in Pondera County, 13.7% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Pondera County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Pondera County since 2015 (1.4% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Pondera County compared with Montana?
Per 100,000 residents, Pondera County has 98.7 truck crashes a year; Montana has 64.3.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Pondera 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.