Cleveland, OH truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Cleveland: 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
10.2 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.8 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Cleveland compares with Ohio
Cleveland against Ohio and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cleveland stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cleveland | Ohio | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 39.7 | 50.8 | 49.7 | 22% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.8 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 10% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.84 | 0.50 | 0.49 | 1.7× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.7% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 1.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 8.2% | 7.8% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.4% | 21.4% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.0% | 18.9% | 13.8% | 15% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.1% | 42.3% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.5% | 25.8% | 24.8% | 20% below the state |
Cleveland has lower values than Ohio for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Ohio on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in Cleveland: I-90 12 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 15 miles of Cleveland.
Overview
Police reported 1,664 crashes involving commercial trucks in Cleveland since 2015: 1,390 people were injured and 49 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 3 days.
When crashes happen
February has the most truck crashes, 9.9% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (6.7%).
November through March accounts for 41.1% of truck crashes here, compared with 42.3% in Ohio.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 8.2% of truck crashes.
8.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 7.8% across Ohio.
Where crashes happen
I-90 leads within 15 miles of Cleveland with 12 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: I-480 (9), I-271 (7) and I-80 (7).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 60 crashes, 3.6% of the total, against 2.5% across Ohio.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in April (13%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 10.2, vs 2.8 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Cleveland fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Cleveland.
- Check whether your routes use I-90, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in April; review collection routes for that month.
- Morning starts matter: 23.4% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Ohio.
- 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 Cleveland
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 12 |
| I-480 | 9 |
| I-271 | 7 |
| I-80 | 7 |
| 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 (Cleveland) |
|---|---|
| Ir 90 | 394 |
| Ir 480 | 117 |
| Ir 77 | 77 |
| Ir 71 | 72 |
| Broadway Av | 36 |
| St Clair Av | 31 |
| Ir 490 | 31 |
| SR-176 | 31 |
Cleveland at a glance
| Population | 365,379 |
| Land area | 77.7 sq mi |
| Density | 4,700 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cleveland 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 | 1 | — | 6.7 |
| 2000s | 91 | +12668% | 5.6 |
| 2010s | 159 | +74% | 5.4 |
| 2020s | 111 | -30% | 9.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 1 to 111. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 6.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 9.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Cleveland
How common are truck crashes in Cleveland?
1,664 truck crashes have been reported in Cleveland since 2015, with 49 deaths and 1,390 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Cleveland?
Since 2015, I-90 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of Cleveland: 12.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Cleveland?
February has the most truck crashes in Cleveland, 9.9% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Cleveland?
60 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Cleveland since 2015, 3.6% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Cleveland compare with Ohio?
Per 100,000 residents, Cleveland has 39.7 truck crashes a year; Ohio has 50.8.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Cleveland?
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.