Carthage, TN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Carthage: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Carthage and Smith County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Smith County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
4 of 421 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Smith County compares with Tennessee
Smith County against Tennessee and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Smith County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Smith County | Tennessee | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 175.8 | 60.1 | 49.7 | 2.9× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.0 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.45 | 0.48 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.0% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 48% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 4.5% | 2.3% | 6.2% | 1.9× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.1% | 21.8% | 23.7% | 12% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.7% | 14.9% | 13.8% | 1.2× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.3% | 40.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 36.6% | 25.9% | 24.8% | 1.4× the state |
Smith County has lower values than Tennessee for garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Smith County: 4.5% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 2.3% across Tennessee.
Overview
Since 2015, 421 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Smith County. They injured 193 people and killed 24.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 10 days.
Only 10 truck crashes were reported in Carthage since 2015; patterns below come from Smith County as a whole.
67% of truck crash reports in Smith County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
The worst month is February with 10.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is November at 5.9%.
November through March accounts for 43.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.5% in Tennessee.
By time of day, 7–8 am stands out with 6.9% of truck crashes.
4.5% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 2.3% across Tennessee.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-40 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (9).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 4 of the truck crashes here, or 1.0%, compared with 1.9% in Tennessee.
Route planning tips for Carthage fleets
- Review driver schedules for February, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along I-40; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 4.5% of truck crashes here, more than Tennessee; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Smith County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 9 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Smith County) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 331 |
| Gordonsville Hwy | 12 |
| Exit Ramp 254 | 7 |
| Dixon Springs Hwy | 6 |
| Cookeville Hwy | 5 |
| Grant Hwy | 4 |
| Lebanon Hwy | 4 |
| Alexandria Hwy | 3 |
Carthage at a glance
| Population | 2,266 |
| Land area | 2.9 sq mi |
| Density | 781 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 37030) | $61,800 |
| Median home value (ZIP 37030) | $254,352 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Smith 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 | 11 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 16 | +53% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 26 | +60% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 42 | +61% | 1.0 |
In the 1990s about 11 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 42. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Carthage
How common are truck crashes in Carthage?
Since 2015, 421 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Smith County (193 injured, 24 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Carthage?
Since 2015, I-40 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Carthage: 9.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Carthage?
The worst month is February: 10.5% of truck crashes in Smith County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Carthage?
4 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Smith County since 2015, 1.0% of all truck crashes.
How does Carthage compare with Tennessee for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 175.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Smith County, vs 60.1 for Tennessee.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Carthage?
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.