Quay County, NM truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Quay 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 638 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Quay County compares with New Mexico
Quay County against New Mexico and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Quay County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Quay County | New Mexico | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 642.6 | 45.6 | 49.7 | 14.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.9 | 9.5 | 3.4 | 38% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.49 | 0.56 | 0.49 | 13% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 0.4% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.4% | 12.1% | 6.2% | 22% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 17.8% | 22.8% | 23.7% | 22% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.9% | 11.7% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.3% | 46.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 37.0% | 30.2% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Compared with New Mexico, Quay 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 and after dark.
The headline for Quay County: 0 crashes involve a garbage truck (0 since 2015), vs 0.4% across New Mexico.
Overview
Since 2015, 638 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Quay County. They injured 305 people and killed 38.
That averages about one truck crash every 7 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 11.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 6.4%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 45.3% of truck crashes, vs 46.8% for New Mexico.
By time of day, 4–5 pm stands out with 6.4% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 9.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (New Mexico: 12.1%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Quay County is I-40, with 13 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: US-54 (4).
Garbage & waste trucks
No crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Quay County since 2015.
Route planning tips for Quay County fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use I-40, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 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 Quay County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Quay County) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 13 |
| US-54 | 4 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Quay County) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 177 |
| US-54 | 50 |
| Interstate 40 Frontage Rd | 16 |
| I40 Eb On Ramp | 10 |
| Nm Highway 469 | 6 |
| Interstate 40 Five Mile Park Rd | 6 |
| Interstate 40 & Route 66 | 5 |
| Interstate 40 & Quay Rd U | 5 |
Quay County at a glance
| Population | 8,403 |
| Land area | 2,874.0 sq mi |
| Density | 3 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $48,499 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Quay 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 | 10 | — | 1.0 |
| 2000s | 14 | +36% | 1.7 |
| 2010s | 32 | +123% | 1.4 |
| 2020s | 66 | +107% | 2.2 |
In the 1990s about 10 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 66. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.5 a year in 2016–19 and 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Quay County
ZIP codes in Quay County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Quay County
How many truck crashes happen in Quay County?
638 truck crashes have been reported in Quay County since 2015, with 38 deaths and 305 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Quay County?
Since 2015, I-40 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Quay County: 13.
When do most truck crashes happen in Quay County?
January has the most truck crashes in Quay County, 11.4% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Quay County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 0 reported crashes in Quay County since 2015 (0.0% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Quay County compare with New Mexico?
Per 100,000 residents, Quay County has 642.6 truck crashes a year; New Mexico has 45.6.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Quay 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.