Palmer, TX truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Palmer: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Palmer and Cameron County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Cameron County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
9 of 1,016 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Cameron County compares with Texas
Cameron County against Texas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cameron County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cameron County | Texas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 20.1 | 62.9 | 49.7 | 68% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.5 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.79 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 1.4× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.8% | 1.1% | 2.3% | 24% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.6% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 62% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.5% | 22.6% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.1% | 11.3% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.3% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.4% | 27.0% | 24.8% | 13% below the state |
Compared with Texas, Cameron County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Palmer: Fm 106 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of Palmer: 4 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,016 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Cameron County. They injured 786 people and killed 45.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 4 days.
With 0 truck crashes reported in Palmer since 2015, this page uses Cameron County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
July has the most truck crashes, 10.1% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (7.1%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.3% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Texas.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 7.4% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.6% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in Texas.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of Palmer is Fm 106, with 4 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: Fm 509 (2), US-281 (2) and Bu 77X (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
9 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.9% share (Texas: 1.1%).
Route planning tips for Palmer fleets
- Build extra time into July routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use Fm 106, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 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 Cameron County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| Fm 106 | 4 |
| Fm 509 | 2 |
| US-281 | 2 |
| Bu 77X | 1 |
| CR-ED Carey Dr | 1 |
| Fm 2520 | 1 |
| Fm 345/Sam Houston | 1 |
| Fm 732 | 1 |
| I-69 | 1 |
| I-69E | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cameron County) |
|---|---|
| Padre Island Hwy | 43 |
| Boca Chica Blvd | 28 |
| Fm 511 | 19 |
| International Blvd | 18 |
| Ruben M Torres Blvd | 15 |
| Paredes Line Rd | 14 |
| Military Hwy | 14 |
| Senator Eddie Lucio Jr Hwy | 13 |
Palmer at a glance
| Land area | 1.1 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 78586) | $45,575 |
| Median home value (ZIP 78586) | $95,111 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cameron 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 | 110 | — | 2.8 |
| 2000s | 90 | -18% | 1.7 |
| 2010s | 71 | -22% | 2.2 |
| 2020s | 92 | +29% | 3.4 |
In the 1990s about 110 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 92. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.0 a year in 2016–19, 3.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Palmer
How many truck crashes happen in Palmer?
Cameron County has had 1,016 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 786 people and killing 45.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Palmer?
Fm 106 had 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Palmer since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Palmer?
The worst month is July: 10.1% of truck crashes in Cameron County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Palmer?
Since 2015, Cameron County has reported 9 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.9% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Palmer compared with Texas?
Cameron County records 20.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 62.9 across Texas.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Palmer?
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.