Powder River County, MT truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Powder River 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 123 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Powder River County compares with Montana
Powder River County against Montana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Powder River County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Powder River County | Montana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 587.2 | 64.3 | 49.7 | 9.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.4 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.37 | 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 | 22.3% | 39.4% | 6.2% | 43% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 17.9% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 22% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.1% | 20.6% | 13.8% | 22% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.4% | 54.3% | 41.9% | 15% below the state |
| After dark | 38.4% | 30.8% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Compared with Montana, Powder River County is lower on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Powder River County: 0 crashes involve a garbage truck (0 since 2015), vs 0.9% across Montana.
Overview
Police reported 123 crashes involving commercial trucks in Powder River County since 2015: 51 people were injured and 7 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 36 days.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 13.0% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (3.3%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 46.4% of truck crashes, against 54.3% across Montana.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 8.1% of truck crashes.
22.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 39.4% across Montana.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck in Powder River County happened on US-212 (3); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Since 2015, no garbage-truck crashes were reported for Powder River County.
Route planning tips for Powder River County fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Powder River County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Powder River County) |
|---|---|
| US-212 | 3 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Powder River County) |
|---|---|
| Mm82.2 Us Highway 212 | 2 |
| Mm 79.5 212 West | 1 |
| Mm 80 Us-212 | 1 |
| Mm 98.2 Us212 | 1 |
| Mm 99.4 Us 212 | 1 |
| Mm100 Us-212E | 1 |
| Mm83.1 Us212 | 1 |
| Mm92.2 Us212 | 1 |
Powder River County at a glance
| Population | 1,734 |
| Land area | 3,298.2 sq mi |
| Density | 1 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $58,277 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Powder River 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 | — | — | 0.3 |
| 2000s | 5 | — | 0.0 |
| 2010s | 7 | +45% | 0.1 |
| 2020s | 10 | +52% | 0.4 |
From the 2000s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 5 to 10. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Powder River County
ZIP codes in Powder River County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Powder River County
How common are truck crashes in Powder River County?
123 truck crashes have been reported in Powder River County since 2015, with 7 deaths and 51 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Powder River County?
March has the most truck crashes in Powder River County, 13.0% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Powder River County?
0 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Powder River County since 2015, 0.0% of all truck crashes.
How does Powder River County compare with Montana for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 587.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Powder River County, vs 64.3 for Montana.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Powder River County?
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.