Union City, TN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Union City: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Union City and Obion County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Obion County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
6 of 225 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Obion County compares with Tennessee
Obion County against Tennessee and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Obion County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Obion County | Tennessee | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 64.3 | 60.1 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.7 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.57 | 0.48 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.8% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.1% | 2.3% | 6.2% | 2.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.1% | 21.8% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.9% | 14.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.3% | 40.5% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 21.5% | 25.9% | 24.8% | 17% below the state |
Obion County sits below Tennessee on after dark. It runs above Tennessee on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Obion County: 5.1% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Tennessee: 2.3%).
Overview
Obion County has recorded 225 truck crashes since 2015, with 132 people injured and 10 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 19 days.
Union City had 68 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Obion County numbers.
48% of truck crash reports in Obion County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (13.3% of the year) and are lowest in July (3.6%).
November through March accounts for 45.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.5% in Tennessee.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (9.8%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 5.1% of truck crashes, compared with 2.3% in Tennessee.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Union City is US-51, with 4 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come US-45W (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 6 crashes, 2.7% of the total, against 1.9% across Tennessee.
Route planning tips for Union City fleets
- Review driver schedules for January, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Look at alternatives to US-51 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Morning starts matter: 27.1% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Tennessee.
- 5.1% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Tennessee; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Obion County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-51 | 4 |
| US-45W | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Obion County) |
|---|---|
| N Hwy 51 | 31 |
| US-51 | 19 |
| N Everett Blvd | 9 |
| S Hwy 51 | 9 |
| W Reelfoot Av | 8 |
| S Hwy 45 | 6 |
| Pleasant Hill Rd | 5 |
| SR-184 | 5 |
Union City at a glance
| Population | 10,876 |
| Land area | 12.1 sq mi |
| Density | 898 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Obion 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 | 9 | — | 1.0 |
| 2000s | 12 | +36% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 16 | +34% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 21 | +35% | 0.6 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 9 a year in the 1990s and 21 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Union City
How many truck accidents are there in Union City?
Obion County has had 225 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 132 people and killing 10.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Union City?
NHTSA data shows US-51 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Union City since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Union City?
January has the most truck crashes in Obion County, 13.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Union City?
6 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Obion County since 2015, 2.7% of all truck crashes.
How does Union City compare with Tennessee for truck crashes?
Obion County records 64.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 60.1 across Tennessee.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Union City?
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.