Kingsport, TN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Kingsport: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Kingsport and Sullivan County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Sullivan County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
15 of 644 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Sullivan County compares with Tennessee
Sullivan County against Tennessee and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Sullivan County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Sullivan County | Tennessee | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 32.6 | 60.1 | 49.7 | 46% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.5 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.52 | 0.48 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.4% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 1.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.7% | 2.3% | 6.2% | 1.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.2% | 21.8% | 23.7% | 7% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.0% | 14.9% | 13.8% | 20% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.2% | 40.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.9% | 25.9% | 24.8% | same |
Sullivan County has lower values than Tennessee for crashes per 100k residents / yr, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Tennessee on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Kingsport: I-81 deadliest road: 7 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Kingsport since 2015.
Overview
Sullivan County has recorded 644 truck crashes since 2015, with 342 people injured and 26 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 7 days.
With 341 truck crashes reported in Kingsport since 2015, this page uses Sullivan County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
22% of truck crash reports in Sullivan County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (10.9% of the year) and are lowest in January (6.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 38.2% of truck crashes, against 40.5% across Tennessee.
More truck crashes happen at 10–11 am than at any other hour (7.9%).
2.7% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 2.3% across Tennessee.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Kingsport is I-81, with 7 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come US-11W (6), I-26 (2) and CR-A A Deakins Road (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
15 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 2.3% share (Tennessee: 1.9%).
Route planning tips for Kingsport fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Sullivan County.
- Look at alternatives to I-81 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 2.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Tennessee; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Sullivan County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 7 |
| US-11W | 6 |
| I-26 | 2 |
| CR-A A Deakins Road | 1 |
| SR-36 | 1 |
| US-23 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Sullivan County) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 227 |
| I-26 | 55 |
| E Stone Dr | 25 |
| SR-11W | 19 |
| Interstate 81 Hwy | 15 |
| SR-394 | 14 |
| I-81 Hwy | 12 |
| W Stone Dr | 12 |
Kingsport at a glance
| Population | 57,109 |
| Land area | 53.1 sq mi |
| Density | 1,076 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Sullivan 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 | 8 | — | 1.5 |
| 2000s | 40 | +375% | 2.0 |
| 2010s | 49 | +24% | 2.0 |
| 2020s | 56 | +15% | 2.2 |
In the 1990s about 8 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 56. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.2 a year in 2016–19, 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Kingsport
How common are truck crashes in Kingsport?
Sullivan County has had 644 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 342 people and killing 26.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Kingsport?
Since 2015, I-81 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Kingsport: 7.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Kingsport?
Truck crashes in Sullivan County peak in August, with 10.9% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Kingsport?
15 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Sullivan County since 2015, 2.3% of all truck crashes.
How does Kingsport compare with Tennessee for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Sullivan County has 32.6 truck crashes a year; Tennessee has 60.1.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Kingsport?
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.