Harris County, TX truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Harris 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
2.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.0 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Harris County compares with Texas
Harris County against Texas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Harris County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Harris County | Texas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 48.4 | 62.9 | 49.7 | 23% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.0 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 51% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.61 | 0.58 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 1.1% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.4% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 75% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.3% | 22.6% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.9% | 11.3% | 13.8% | 12% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.4% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 22.7% | 27.0% | 24.8% | 16% below the state |
Compared with Texas, Harris County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: morning rush (6–10 am).
Harris County at a glance: I-10 most fatal truck crashes in Harris County: 51 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 28,123 crashes involving commercial trucks in Harris County since 2015: 17,177 people were injured and 550 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 7 truck crashes a day.
When crashes happen
The worst month is March with 8.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is December at 7.3%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.4% of truck crashes, vs 40.8% for Texas.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 7.1% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.4% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in Texas.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-10 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (51). After it: I-45 (37), I-610 (25) and SR-8 (25).
Garbage & waste trucks
309 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.1% share (Texas: 1.1%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in June (11%).
Per 100 crashes, garbage trucks recorded 2.0 deaths compared with 2.0 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Harris County fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Harris County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-10; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: June is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Harris County.
- Morning starts matter: 24.3% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Texas.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Harris County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Harris County) |
|---|---|
| I-10 | 51 |
| I-45 | 37 |
| I-610 | 25 |
| SR-8 | 25 |
| I-69 | 20 |
| US-90 | 15 |
| US-290 | 11 |
| Fm 1960 | 8 |
| SR-6 | 7 |
| Fm 2920 | 5 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Harris County) |
|---|---|
| South Fwy | 202 |
| Katy Fwy | 100 |
| East Fwy | 98 |
| Aldine Bender Rd | 93 |
| La Porte Fwy | 82 |
| N Sam Houston Pkwy | 80 |
| Pasadena Fwy | 78 |
| Fairbanks N Houston Rd | 73 |
Harris County at a glance
| Population | 5,009,302 |
| Land area | 1,707.3 sq mi |
| Density | 2,934 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $80,991 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Harris 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 | 2,530 | — | 30.7 |
| 2000s | 2,084 | -18% | 30.4 |
| 2010s | 2,136 | +2% | 30.9 |
| 2020s | 2,485 | +16% | 47.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 2,530 to 2,485. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 35.5 a year in 2016–19 and 47.6 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Harris County
ZIP codes in Harris County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Harris County
How common are truck crashes in Harris County?
Since 2015, 28,123 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Harris County (17,177 injured, 550 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Harris County?
NHTSA data shows I-10 with 51 fatal large-truck crashes in Harris County since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Harris County?
March has the most truck crashes in Harris County, 8.8% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Harris County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 309 reported crashes in Harris County since 2015 (1.1% of truck crashes).
How does Harris County compare with Texas for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 48.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Harris County, vs 62.9 for Texas.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Harris County?
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.