Columbus, MT truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Columbus: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Columbus and Stillwater County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Stillwater County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
0 of 254 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Stillwater County compares with Montana
Stillwater County against Montana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Stillwater County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Stillwater County | Montana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 227.0 | 64.3 | 49.7 | 3.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.5 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 34% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.32 | 0.34 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 0.9% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 59.3% | 39.4% | 6.2% | 1.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.4% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 33.9% | 20.6% | 13.8% | 1.6× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 64.0% | 54.3% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 29.2% | 30.8% | 24.8% | same |
Stillwater County sits below Montana on deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share. It runs above Montana on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Stillwater County: February 22.4% of truck crashes happen in February, more than any other month.
Overview
Stillwater County has recorded 254 truck crashes since 2015, with 79 people injured and 8 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 17 days.
Columbus had 0 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Stillwater County numbers.
90% of truck crash reports in Stillwater County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 22.4% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (3.5%).
November through March accounts for 64.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 54.3% in Montana.
The busiest hour is 9–10 am, with 11.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 59.3% of truck crashes, compared with 39.4% in Montana.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Columbus since 2015 were spread across roads: I- 90 (1) and I-90 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
No crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Stillwater County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Columbus fleets
- Review driver schedules for February, the month with the most truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 25.4% of truck crashes here, more than Montana; adjust start times where you can.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 59.3% of truck crashes here, more than Montana; schedule winter checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Stillwater County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I- 90 | 1 |
| I-90 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Stillwater County) |
|---|---|
| I-90 E Mm398.1 | 2 |
| Mm412.0 I90W | 2 |
| Bull Dr | 1 |
| Hwy 10 Mmm 8.8 | 1 |
| Mm 2.5 S-421 | 1 |
| Mm 396.1 I-90 | 1 |
| Mm 398.3 I 90 | 1 |
| Mm 418.3 I-90 | 1 |
Columbus at a glance
| Population | 1,966 |
| Land area | 1.4 sq mi |
| Density | 1,432 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 59019) | $84,591 |
| Median home value (ZIP 59019) | $404,949 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Stillwater 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 |
| 2000s | 10 | — | 0.0 |
| 2010s | 16 | +55% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 25 | +55% | 0.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 10 a year in the 2000s and 25 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.0 a year in 2016–19, 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Columbus
How many truck crashes happen in Columbus?
Stillwater County has had 254 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 79 people and killing 8.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Columbus?
Truck crashes in Stillwater County peak in February, with 22.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Columbus?
0 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Stillwater County since 2015, 0.0% of all truck crashes.
How does Columbus compare with Montana for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Stillwater County has 227.0 truck crashes a year; Montana has 64.3.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Columbus?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.