Putnam, TX truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Putnam: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Putnam and Callahan County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Callahan County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 576 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Callahan County compares with Texas
Callahan County against Texas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Callahan County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Callahan County | Texas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 330.3 | 62.9 | 49.7 | 5.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.6 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.43 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 26% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.2% | 1.1% | 2.3% | 83% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 7.5% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 4.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 17.3% | 22.6% | 23.7% | 23% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 26.9% | 11.3% | 13.8% | 2.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 48.2% | 40.8% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 33.9% | 27.0% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Callahan County sits below Texas on injuries per crash, 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 Callahan County: 7.5% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 1.7% across Texas.
Overview
Police reported 576 crashes involving commercial trucks in Callahan County since 2015: 241 people were injured and 35 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 8 days.
With 6 truck crashes reported in Putnam since 2015, this page uses Callahan County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is February with 11.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is July at 4.9%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 48.2% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Texas.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 8.7% of truck crashes.
7.5% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 1.7% across Texas.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Putnam is I-20, with 9 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 0.2% of the total, against 1.1% across Texas.
Route planning tips for Putnam fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Callahan County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-20; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 7.5% of truck crashes here, more than Texas; schedule winter checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Callahan County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-20 | 9 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Callahan County) |
|---|---|
| I-20 | 35 |
| S Access Rd | 3 |
| W Interstate 20 Hwy | 3 |
| Cherry St | 2 |
| E 299 Ih20 | 2 |
| E 303 Ih 20 | 2 |
| Sh 36 | 2 |
| W Ih 20 | 2 |
Putnam at a glance
| Population | 77 |
| Land area | 1.0 sq mi |
| Density | 76 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Callahan 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 | 22 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 26 | +18% | 1.7 |
| 2010s | 38 | +44% | 2.0 |
| 2020s | 49 | +29% | 1.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 22 a year in the 1990s and 49 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.2 a year in 2016–19, 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Putnam
How many truck crashes happen in Putnam?
Callahan County has had 576 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 241 people and killing 35.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Putnam?
I-20 had 9 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Putnam since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Putnam?
Truck crashes in Callahan County peak in February, with 11.3% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Putnam?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Callahan County since 2015, 0.2% of all truck crashes.
How does Putnam compare with Texas for truck crashes?
Callahan County records 330.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 62.9 across Texas.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Putnam?
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.