Portland, OR truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Portland: 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
2.2 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.6 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Portland compares with Oregon
Portland against Oregon and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Portland stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Portland | Oregon | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 26.5 | 41.0 | 49.7 | 35% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.6 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 33% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.26 | 0.35 | 0.49 | 26% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 5.0% | 2.0% | 2.3% | 2.5× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.0% | 13.3% | 6.2% | 85% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.4% | 24.2% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.8% | 18.8% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.6% | 45.1% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 20.7% | 25.3% | 24.8% | 18% below the state |
Portland has lower values than Oregon for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Portland: 1 in 20 crashes involve a garbage truck (98 since 2015), vs 2.0% across Oregon.
Overview
Portland has recorded 1,964 truck crashes since 2015, with 505 people injured and 50 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 10.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is September at 7.2%.
November through March accounts for 42.6% of truck crashes here, compared with 45.1% in Oregon.
More truck crashes happen at 9–10 am than at any other hour (8.5%).
Road surface: 2.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Oregon: 13.3%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 15 miles of Portland is I-5, with 12 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come I-205 (7), I-84 (6) and SR-99 (6).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 98 of the truck crashes here, or 5.0%, compared with 2.0% in Oregon.
Their busiest month is December, with 12% of garbage-truck crashes.
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.2, vs 2.6 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Portland fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Portland.
- Check whether your routes use I-5, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in December; review collection routes for that month.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 27.4% of truck crashes here, more than Oregon; adjust start times where you can.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Portland
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 12 |
| I-205 | 7 |
| I-84 | 6 |
| SR-99 | 6 |
| Ne Marine Dr | 5 |
| Ne Columbia Blvd | 3 |
| US-30 | 3 |
| SR-212 | 2 |
| SR-224 | 2 |
| SR-500 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Portland) |
|---|---|
| I-5 .04 N Multnomah Blvd On Ramp | 7 |
| I-5 .01 S Wheeler Ave On Ramp | 7 |
| I-5 .05 S Hwy 99W On Ramp | 6 |
| I-405 (Fremont Bridge) | 6 |
| I-405 | 5 |
| I-205 .13 N Division St On Ramp | 5 |
| Marine Dr & 122Nd Ave | 5 |
| Hwy 30 & Nicolai St | 4 |
Portland at a glance
| Population | 635,749 |
| Land area | 133.5 sq mi |
| Density | 4,762 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Portland 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 | — | — | 5.7 |
| 2000s | 145 | — | 3.8 |
| 2010s | 184 | +26% | 4.5 |
| 2020s | 142 | -23% | 6.0 |
In the 2000s about 145 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 142. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 5.5 a year in 2016–19, 6.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Portland
How common are truck crashes in Portland?
Portland has had 1,964 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 505 people and killing 50.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Portland?
NHTSA data shows I-5 with 12 fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of Portland since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Portland?
August has the most truck crashes in Portland, 10.0% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Portland?
Garbage trucks were involved in 98 reported crashes in Portland since 2015 (5.0% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Portland compare with Oregon?
Per 100,000 residents, Portland has 26.5 truck crashes a year; Oregon has 41.0.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Portland?
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.