Hidalgo County, TX truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Hidalgo 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.1 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Hidalgo County compares with Texas
Hidalgo County against Texas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Hidalgo County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Hidalgo County | Texas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 29.2 | 62.9 | 49.7 | 54% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.1 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 49% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.95 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 1.6× the state |
| 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) | 17.8% | 22.6% | 23.7% | 22% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.6% | 11.3% | 13.8% | 24% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.1% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.2% | 27.0% | 24.8% | 22% below the state |
Hidalgo County sits below Texas on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above Texas on injuries per crash.
What stands out in Hidalgo County: US-281 9 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road in Hidalgo County.
Overview
Hidalgo County has recorded 3,121 truck crashes since 2015, with 2,969 people injured and 65 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
When crashes happen
March has the most truck crashes, 9.3% of the yearly total, while July has the fewest (6.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.1% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Texas.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 8.5% 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
US-281 leads in Hidalgo County with 9 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come I-2 (5), I-69 (4) and Fm 1015 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
34 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.1% share (Texas: 1.1%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in September (15% of them).
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.1 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Hidalgo County fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Check whether your routes use US-281, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Waste haulers: September is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Hidalgo County.
- 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 Hidalgo County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Hidalgo County) |
|---|---|
| US-281 | 9 |
| I-2 | 5 |
| I-69 | 4 |
| Fm 1015 | 2 |
| Fm 1925 | 2 |
| Fm 1925/Monte Cristo Rd | 2 |
| Fm 2221 | 2 |
| Fm 491 | 2 |
| SR-495 | 2 |
| CR-FLORAL Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Hidalgo County) |
|---|---|
| S 9901 Cage Blvd | 19 |
| Monte Cristo Rd | 15 |
| Military Hwy | 14 |
| E 1300 Monte Cristo Rd | 14 |
| Alamo Rd | 11 |
| S 9900 Cage Blvd | 9 |
| Moorefield Rd | 8 |
| N 4600 Cage Blvd | 8 |
Hidalgo County at a glance
| Population | 914,820 |
| Land area | 1,571.2 sq mi |
| Density | 582 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $54,729 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Hidalgo 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 | 178 | — | 5.6 |
| 2000s | 196 | +10% | 6.6 |
| 2010s | 199 | +2% | 4.1 |
| 2020s | 296 | +48% | 5.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 178 a year in the 1990s and 296 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 4.2 a year in 2016–19, 5.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Hidalgo County
ZIP codes in Hidalgo County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Hidalgo County
How many truck crashes happen in Hidalgo County?
Since 2015, 3,121 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Hidalgo County (2,969 injured, 65 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Hidalgo County?
Since 2015, US-281 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Hidalgo County: 9.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Hidalgo County?
March has the most truck crashes in Hidalgo County, 9.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Hidalgo County?
Since 2015, Hidalgo County has reported 34 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.1% of its truck crashes.
How does Hidalgo County compare with Texas for truck crashes?
Hidalgo County records 29.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 62.9 across Texas.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Hidalgo County?
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.