Powell County, MT truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Powell 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 191 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Powell County compares with Montana
Powell County against Montana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Powell County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Powell County | Montana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 233.7 | 64.3 | 49.7 | 3.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.3 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 13% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.31 | 0.34 | 0.49 | 9% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.5% | 0.9% | 2.3% | 40% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 51.4% | 39.4% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.1% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 23.5% | 20.6% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 65.0% | 54.3% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 45.9% | 30.8% | 24.8% | 1.5× the state |
Compared with Montana, Powell County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
Powell County at a glance: February worst month: 16.8% of truck crashes, vs 8.3% in an average month.
Overview
Since 2015, 191 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Powell County. They injured 60 people and killed 9.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 22 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is February with 16.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is August at 2.1%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 65.0% of truck crashes, vs 54.3% for Montana.
More truck crashes happen at 8–9 am than at any other hour (7.3%).
51.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 39.4% across Montana.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck in Powell County since 2015: I-90 (1), SR-141 (1) and SR-200 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.5% share (Montana: 0.9%).
Route planning tips for Powell County fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Powell County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 25.1% of truck crashes here, more than Montana; adjust start times where you can.
- With 51.4% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Montana), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Powell County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Powell County) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 1 |
| SR-141 | 1 |
| SR-200 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Powell County) |
|---|---|
| Mile 194.0 I-90 | 1 |
| Mm 117.1 I-90 | 1 |
| Mm 167.9 I90 | 1 |
| Mm 169.9 I-90W | 1 |
| Mm 172.1 I90E | 1 |
| Mm 179.5 I90 | 1 |
| Mm160.9 I-90 | 1 |
| Mm163.1 I90 | 1 |
Powell County at a glance
| Population | 7,120 |
| Land area | 2,326.0 sq mi |
| Density | 3 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $66,494 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Powell 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 | — | 0.2 |
| 2000s | 10 | +1920% | 0.7 |
| 2010s | 14 | +34% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 18 | +31% | 0.4 |
From the 2000s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 10 to 18. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Powell County
ZIP codes in Powell County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Powell County
How common are truck crashes in Powell County?
Since 2015, 191 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Powell County (60 injured, 9 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Powell County?
Truck crashes in Powell County peak in February, with 16.8% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Powell County?
Since 2015, Powell County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 0.5% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Powell County compare with Montana?
Per 100,000 residents, Powell County has 233.7 truck crashes a year; Montana has 64.3.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Powell 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.