Hidalgo, TX truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Hidalgo: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Hidalgo and Hidalgo County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Hidalgo County numbers.
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 |
Compared with Texas, Hidalgo County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher injuries per crash.
Hidalgo at a glance: US-281 6 fatal truck crashes since 2015, more than any other road within 10 miles of Hidalgo.
Overview
Hidalgo County has recorded 3,121 truck crashes since 2015, with 2,969 people injured and 65 killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
Hidalgo had 81 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Hidalgo County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is March with 9.3% of truck crashes; the quietest is July at 6.7%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 43.1% of truck crashes, vs 40.8% for Texas.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, with 8.5% of truck crashes.
0.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 1.7% across Texas.
Where crashes happen
US-281 leads within 10 miles of Hidalgo with 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come I-2 (2), SR-495 (2) and Fm 2557 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 34 crashes, 1.1% of the total, against 1.1% across Texas.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in September (15%).
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.1 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Hidalgo fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Hidalgo County.
- Where you can, review stops along US-281; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in September; review collection routes for that month.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Hidalgo County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-281 | 6 |
| I-2 | 2 |
| SR-495 | 2 |
| Fm 2557 | 1 |
| Fm 3362/Jackson Rd | 1 |
| Fm 494/Shary Rd | 1 |
| Fm1016 Military Hwy | 1 |
| I-20 | 1 |
| I2 Frontage | 1 |
| SR-336 | 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 at a glance
| Population | 15,164 |
| Land area | 8.3 sq mi |
| Density | 1,817 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 78557) | $59,441 |
| Median home value (ZIP 78557) | $163,611 |
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 |
In the 1990s about 178 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 296. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 4.2 a year in 2016–19 and 5.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Hidalgo
How common are truck crashes in Hidalgo?
3,121 truck crashes have been reported in Hidalgo County since 2015, with 65 deaths and 2,969 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Hidalgo?
US-281 had 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Hidalgo since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Hidalgo?
March has the most truck crashes in Hidalgo County, 9.3% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Hidalgo?
Since 2015, Hidalgo County has reported 34 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.1% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Hidalgo compared with Texas?
Per 100,000 residents, Hidalgo County has 29.2 truck crashes a year; Texas has 62.9.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Hidalgo?
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.