Putnam County, TN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Putnam 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
10 of 878 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Putnam County compares with Tennessee
Putnam County against Tennessee and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Putnam County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Putnam County | Tennessee | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 86.2 | 60.1 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.3 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.49 | 0.48 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.2% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 36% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.9% | 2.3% | 6.2% | 1.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.8% | 21.8% | 23.7% | 10% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.9% | 14.9% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.9% | 40.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.6% | 25.9% | 24.8% | same |
Putnam County has lower values than Tennessee for garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Putnam County: 3.9% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 2.3% in Tennessee.
Overview
Putnam County has recorded 878 truck crashes since 2015, with 421 people injured and 36 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 5 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in July (10.6% of the year) and are lowest in October (6.9%).
November through March accounts for 38.9% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.5% in Tennessee.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (8.8%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 3.9% of truck crashes, compared with 2.3% in Tennessee.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-40 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (13). Next come SR-111 (3), US-70N (3) and SR-135 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 10 of the truck crashes here, or 1.1%, compared with 1.9% in Tennessee.
Route planning tips for Putnam County fleets
- Build extra time into July routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-40 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 3.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Tennessee; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Putnam County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Putnam County) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 13 |
| SR-111 | 3 |
| US-70N | 3 |
| SR-135 | 2 |
| Buffalo Valley Rd | 1 |
| CR-SHIPLEY Rd | 1 |
| SR-136 | 1 |
| SR-62 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Putnam County) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 582 |
| Ramp | 34 |
| E Spring St | 16 |
| SR-111S | 13 |
| S Jefferson Ave | 13 |
| S Willow Ave | 10 |
| Monterey Hwy | 7 |
| E 10Th St | 7 |
Putnam County at a glance
| Population | 84,894 |
| Land area | 401.1 sq mi |
| Density | 212 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $60,471 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Putnam 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 | 24 | — | 1.6 |
| 2000s | 35 | +46% | 1.3 |
| 2010s | 54 | +52% | 1.1 |
| 2020s | 82 | +53% | 3.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 24 to 82. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 2.2 a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Putnam County
ZIP codes in Putnam County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Putnam County
How many truck crashes happen in Putnam County?
Since 2015, 878 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Putnam County (421 injured, 36 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Putnam County?
NHTSA data shows I-40 with 13 fatal large-truck crashes in Putnam County since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Putnam County?
Truck crashes in Putnam County peak in July, with 10.6% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Putnam County?
Since 2015, Putnam County has reported 10 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.1% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Putnam County compared with Tennessee?
Per 100,000 residents, Putnam County has 86.2 truck crashes a year; Tennessee has 60.1.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Putnam County?
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.