Benton County, TN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Benton 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
2 of 332 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Benton County compares with Tennessee
Benton County against Tennessee and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Benton County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Benton County | Tennessee | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 175.4 | 60.1 | 49.7 | 2.9× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 26% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.48 | 0.49 | 17% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.6% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 67% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.9% | 2.3% | 6.2% | 18% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.5% | 21.8% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.1% | 14.9% | 13.8% | 12% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.8% | 40.5% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 30.1% | 25.9% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Benton County sits below Tennessee on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, winter months (nov–mar) and after dark.
The headline for Benton County: 1 in 156 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 0.6%, vs 1.9% in Tennessee.
Overview
Police reported 332 crashes involving commercial trucks in Benton County since 2015: 135 people were injured and 9 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 13 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is January with 12.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 5.1%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 45.8% of truck crashes, vs 40.5% for Tennessee.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (7.2%).
Road surface: 1.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Tennessee: 2.3%).
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Benton County is US-70, with 3 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come US-641 (2), CR-ROCKPORT Mcillwain Rd (1) and I-40 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
2 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.6% share (Tennessee: 1.9%).
Route planning tips for Benton County fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Benton County.
- Check whether your routes use US-70, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 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 Benton County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Benton County) |
|---|---|
| US-70 | 3 |
| US-641 | 2 |
| CR-ROCKPORT Mcillwain Rd | 1 |
| I-40 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Benton County) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 231 |
| SR-641S | 23 |
| US-641 | 8 |
| Hwy 70 Byp | 7 |
| US-70 | 7 |
| Birdsong Rd | 6 |
| SR-70E | 5 |
| SR-641N | 4 |
Benton County at a glance
| Population | 16,173 |
| Land area | 394.3 sq mi |
| Density | 41 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $54,078 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Benton 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 | 12 | — | 0.7 |
| 2000s | 14 | +10% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 22 | +62% | 1.1 |
| 2020s | 31 | +41% | 1.0 |
In the 1990s about 12 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 31. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.2 a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Benton County
ZIP codes in Benton County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Benton County
How many truck crashes happen in Benton County?
Benton County has had 332 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 135 people and killing 9.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Benton County?
NHTSA data shows US-70 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes in Benton County since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Benton County?
Truck crashes in Benton County peak in January, with 12.0% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Benton County?
2 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Benton County since 2015, 0.6% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Benton County compared with Tennessee?
Per 100,000 residents, Benton County has 175.4 truck crashes a year; Tennessee has 60.1.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Benton County?
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.