Belen, NM truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Belen: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Belen and Valencia County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Valencia County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
8 of 92 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Valencia County compares with New Mexico
Valencia County against New Mexico and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Valencia County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Valencia County | New Mexico | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 9.9 | 45.6 | 49.7 | 78% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 9.1 | 9.5 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.64 | 0.56 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 9.1% | 0.4% | 2.3% | 20.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.4% | 12.1% | 6.2% | 72% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.0% | 22.8% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 3.4% | 11.7% | 13.8% | 71% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.3% | 46.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.6% | 30.2% | 24.8% | 29% below the state |
Compared with New Mexico, Valencia County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Valencia County: 1 in 11 crashes involve a garbage truck (8 since 2015), vs 0.4% across New Mexico.
Overview
Police reported 92 crashes involving commercial trucks in Valencia County since 2015: 57 people were injured and 9 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 46 days.
Belen had 21 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Valencia County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is February with 14.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is August at 3.3%.
November through March accounts for 44.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 46.8% in New Mexico.
The busiest hour is 11 am–12 pm, with 9.8% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 3.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (New Mexico: 12.1%).
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-314 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). After it: SR-47 (2), I-25 (1) and Mu- Juan P Sanchez (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 8 of the truck crashes here, or 8.7%, compared with 0.4% in New Mexico.
Route planning tips for Belen fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Valencia County.
- Check whether your routes use SR-314, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Morning starts matter: 25.0% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than New Mexico.
- 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 Valencia County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-314 | 3 |
| SR-47 | 2 |
| I-25 | 1 |
| Mu- Juan P Sanchez | 1 |
| West Bosque Loop | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Valencia County) |
|---|---|
| I-25 | 9 |
| Main St | 8 |
| SR-47 | 6 |
| SR-6 | 3 |
| I 25 Mm 206 | 2 |
| Main St And I-25 Bridge | 2 |
| SR-346 | 2 |
| Blanda Ct | 1 |
Belen at a glance
| Population | 7,556 |
| Land area | 19.0 sq mi |
| Density | 397 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Valencia 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 | 2 | — | 0.7 |
| 2000s | 3 | +41% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 6 | +70% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 8 | +49% | 1.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 2 to 8. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.2 a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Belen
How common are truck crashes in Belen?
Since 2015, 92 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Valencia County (57 injured, 9 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Belen?
SR-314 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Belen since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Belen?
The worst month is February: 14.1% of truck crashes in Valencia County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Belen?
8 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Valencia County since 2015, 8.7% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Belen compare with New Mexico?
Per 100,000 residents, Valencia County has 9.9 truck crashes a year; New Mexico has 45.6.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Belen?
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.