Union County, TN truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Union 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
1 of 72 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Union County compares with Tennessee
Union County against Tennessee and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Union County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Union County | Tennessee | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 28.9 | 60.1 | 49.7 | 52% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 10.4 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 2.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.54 | 0.48 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.5% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 23% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.0% | 2.3% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.4% | 21.8% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.4% | 14.9% | 13.8% | 10% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 32.8% | 40.5% | 41.9% | 19% below the state |
| After dark | 9.0% | 25.9% | 24.8% | 65% below the state |
Union County sits below Tennessee on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Union County: 10.4 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 3.9 across Tennessee.
Overview
Union County has recorded 72 truck crashes since 2015, with 40 people injured and 7 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 60 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in September (15.3% of the year) and are lowest in March (1.4%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 32.8% of truck crashes, vs 40.5% for Tennessee.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 12.5% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 3.0% of truck crashes, compared with 2.3% in Tennessee.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, SR-33 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (5). After it: SR-144 (1) and SR-170 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 1.4% of the total, against 1.9% across Tennessee.
Route planning tips for Union County fleets
- Plan September schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Union County.
- Look at alternatives to SR-33 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 25.4% of truck crashes here, more than Tennessee; adjust start times where you can.
- 3.0% 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
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Union County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Union County) |
|---|---|
| SR-33 | 5 |
| SR-144 | 1 |
| SR-170 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Union County) |
|---|---|
| Maynardville Hwy | 27 |
| SR-33 | 4 |
| SR-61E | 4 |
| Sharps Chapel Rd | 4 |
| Beard Valley Rd | 3 |
| Tn-61 | 3 |
| Butcher Ln | 2 |
| Hickory Valley Rd | 2 |
Union County at a glance
| Population | 21,064 |
| Land area | 223.6 sq mi |
| Density | 94 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $62,341 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Union 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 | 3 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 6 | +144% | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 4 | -43% | 0.4 |
| 2020s | 8 | +112% | 0.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 3 to 8. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.5 a year in 2016–19, 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Union County
ZIP codes in Union County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Union County
How common are truck crashes in Union County?
Since 2015, 72 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Union County (40 injured, 7 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Union County?
Since 2015, SR-33 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Union County: 5.
When do most truck crashes happen in Union County?
September has the most truck crashes in Union County, 15.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Union County?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Union County since 2015, 1.4% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Union County compared with Tennessee?
Per 100,000 residents, Union County has 28.9 truck crashes a year; Tennessee has 60.1.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Union County?
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.