Albuquerque, NM truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Albuquerque: 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
4 of 993 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Albuquerque compares with New Mexico
Albuquerque against New Mexico and the US, 2015–2024 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Albuquerque stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2024) | Albuquerque | New Mexico | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 15.3 | 45.6 | 49.7 | 66% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.8 | 9.5 | 3.4 | 18% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.41 | 0.56 | 0.49 | 27% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.5% | 0.4% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.1% | 12.1% | 6.2% | 83% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.1% | 22.8% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 5.7% | 11.7% | 13.8% | 51% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.7% | 46.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.0% | 30.2% | 24.8% | 24% below the state |
Compared with New Mexico, Albuquerque is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher morning rush (6–10 am).
Albuquerque at a glance: 1.8× fatal truck crashes within 15 miles of Albuquerque per year, 2020–24 vs 2016–19 (10.0 vs 5.5).
Overview
Police reported 993 crashes involving commercial trucks in Albuquerque since 2015: 401 people were injured and 73 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 4 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 9.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 6.1%.
November through March accounts for 43.7% of truck crashes here, compared with 46.8% in New Mexico.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (7.4%).
2.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 12.1% across New Mexico.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-40 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (33). After it: I-25 (5), SR-45 (3) and Central Ave (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 4 of the truck crashes here, or 0.4%, compared with 0.4% in New Mexico.
Route planning tips for Albuquerque fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to I-40 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 26.1% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above New Mexico; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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.
Reporting was incomplete in 2025, so those years are greyed out and left out of rates and comparisons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Albuquerque
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 33 |
| I-25 | 5 |
| SR-45 | 3 |
| Central Ave | 2 |
| Mu-Central Ave | 2 |
| SR-500 | 2 |
| SR-528 | 2 |
| SR-556 | 2 |
| 2nd St Nw | 1 |
| 4th Street | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Albuquerque) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 67 |
| I 40 West Bd Fw | 43 |
| I 40 East Bd Fw | 38 |
| I-25 | 17 |
| Coors Blvd Nw | 17 |
| I 40 West-Bd Fw | 14 |
| I 25 North Bd Fw | 14 |
| I 25 South Bd Fw | 13 |
Albuquerque at a glance
| Population | 560,326 |
| Land area | 187.3 sq mi |
| Density | 2,992 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Albuquerque 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 | 5 | — | 5.7 |
| 2000s | 32 | +491% | 5.0 |
| 2010s | 80 | +156% | 5.2 |
| 2020s | 75 | -7% | 11.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 5 to 75. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 6.0 a year in 2016–19 and 11.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Albuquerque
How common are truck crashes in Albuquerque?
Albuquerque has had 993 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 401 people and killing 73.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Albuquerque?
I-40 had 33 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 15 miles of Albuquerque since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Albuquerque?
January has the most truck crashes in Albuquerque, 9.8% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Albuquerque?
4 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Albuquerque since 2015, 0.4% of all truck crashes.
How does Albuquerque compare with New Mexico for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 15.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Albuquerque, vs 45.6 for New Mexico.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Albuquerque?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2025; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.