Cuyahoga County, OH truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Cuyahoga 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
6.4 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.3 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Cuyahoga County compares with Ohio
Cuyahoga County against Ohio and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cuyahoga County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cuyahoga County | Ohio | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 31.9 | 50.8 | 49.7 | 37% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.3 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 26% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.64 | 0.50 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.6% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.4% | 7.8% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.0% | 21.4% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 19.4% | 18.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.2% | 42.3% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.6% | 25.8% | 24.8% | 16% below the state |
Cuyahoga County sits below Ohio on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and after dark. It stands out for higher injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Cuyahoga County: I-90 most fatal truck crashes in Cuyahoga County: 11 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 4,613 crashes involving commercial trucks in Cuyahoga County since 2015: 2,960 people were injured and 108 were killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (10.6% of the year) and are lowest in April (6.6%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.2% of truck crashes, against 42.3% across Ohio.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 7.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 9.4% of truck crashes, compared with 7.8% in Ohio.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Cuyahoga County is I-90, with 11 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: I-480 (8), I-271 (7) and I-80 (6).
Garbage & waste trucks
164 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.6% share (Ohio: 2.5%).
Their busiest month is January, with 14% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 6.4, vs 2.3 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Cuyahoga County fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-90 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: January is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Cuyahoga County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 24.0% of truck crashes here, more than Ohio; adjust start times where you can.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 9.4% of truck crashes here, more than Ohio; 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
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Cuyahoga County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Cuyahoga County) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 11 |
| I-480 | 8 |
| I-271 | 7 |
| I-80 | 6 |
| I-77 | 4 |
| I-71 | 3 |
| US-322 | 3 |
| SR-17 | 2 |
| SR-176 | 2 |
| US-42 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cuyahoga County) |
|---|---|
| Ir 90 | 551 |
| Ir 480 | 399 |
| Ir 80 | 326 |
| Ir 271 | 228 |
| Ir 77 | 185 |
| Ir 71 | 159 |
| Broadway Av | 81 |
| US-422 | 55 |
Cuyahoga County at a glance
| Population | 1,240,594 |
| Land area | 457.2 sq mi |
| Density | 2,713 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $70,950 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cuyahoga 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 | 45 | — | 6.7 |
| 2000s | 272 | +504% | 5.6 |
| 2010s | 419 | +54% | 5.4 |
| 2020s | 328 | -22% | 9.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 45 a year in the 1990s and 328 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 6.5 a year in 2016–19, 9.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Cuyahoga County
ZIP codes in Cuyahoga County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Cuyahoga County
How common are truck crashes in Cuyahoga County?
Cuyahoga County has had 4,613 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 2,960 people and killing 108.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Cuyahoga County?
Since 2015, I-90 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Cuyahoga County: 11.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Cuyahoga County?
The worst month is January: 10.6% of truck crashes in Cuyahoga County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Cuyahoga County?
164 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Cuyahoga County since 2015, 3.6% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Cuyahoga County compare with Ohio?
The yearly rate is 31.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Cuyahoga County, vs 50.8 for Ohio.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Cuyahoga County?
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.