The Dalles, OR truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in The Dalles: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in The Dalles and Wasco County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Wasco County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 451 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Wasco County compares with Oregon
Wasco County against Oregon and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Wasco County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Wasco County | Oregon | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 145.8 | 41.0 | 49.7 | 3.6× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.6 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 33% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.29 | 0.35 | 0.49 | 17% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.2% | 2.0% | 2.3% | 88% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 40.7% | 13.3% | 6.2% | 3.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.3% | 24.2% | 23.7% | 20% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 25.2% | 18.8% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 61.2% | 45.1% | 41.9% | 1.4× the state |
| After dark | 39.1% | 25.3% | 24.8% | 1.5× the state |
Compared with Oregon, Wasco County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Wasco County: 40.7% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 13.3% across Oregon.
Overview
Wasco County has recorded 451 truck crashes since 2015, with 134 people injured and 14 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 9 days.
With 51 truck crashes reported in The Dalles since 2015, this page uses Wasco County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (18.0% of the year) and are lowest in June (4.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 61.2% of truck crashes, against 45.1% across Oregon.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 8.6% of truck crashes.
40.7% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 13.3% across Oregon.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-84 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). After it: US-197 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 1 of the truck crashes here, or 0.2%, compared with 2.0% in Oregon.
Route planning tips for The Dalles fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-84 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- With 40.7% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Oregon), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Wasco County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-84 | 3 |
| US-197 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Wasco County) |
|---|---|
| Hwy 97 1.54 N Hwy 197 | 4 |
| Hwy 197 & Five Mile Rd | 3 |
| Hwy 26 .25 S Cedar Burn Rd | 3 |
| Hwy 26 .77 S Mt Wilson Rd | 3 |
| Hwy 26 1.27 N Hwy 216 | 3 |
| Hwy 97 & Cow Canyon Rest Area | 3 |
| Hwy 97 .49 S Bakeoven Mkt Rd | 3 |
| Hwy 97 1.27 S Cow Canyon Rest Area On Ramp | 3 |
The Dalles at a glance
| Population | 15,884 |
| Land area | 6.7 sq mi |
| Density | 2,376 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 97058) | $62,181 |
| Median home value (ZIP 97058) | $366,618 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Wasco 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 | 20 | — | 1.4 |
| 2000s | 28 | +41% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 33 | +20% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 38 | +13% | 2.4 |
In the 1990s about 20 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 38. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about The Dalles
How many truck accidents are there in The Dalles?
Wasco County has had 451 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 134 people and killing 14.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in The Dalles?
I-84 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of The Dalles since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in The Dalles?
December has the most truck crashes in Wasco County, 18.0% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in The Dalles?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Wasco County since 2015 (0.2% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in The Dalles compare with Oregon?
Wasco County records 145.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 41.0 across Oregon.
How can I plan a safer truck route in The Dalles?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.