Howard County, TX truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Howard 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
1 of 913 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Howard County compares with Texas
Howard County against Texas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Howard County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Howard County | Texas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 255.3 | 62.9 | 49.7 | 4.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.4 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 1.6× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.69 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.1% | 1.1% | 2.3% | 89% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.2% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 2.0× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.5% | 22.6% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.8% | 11.3% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.7% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 30.2% | 27.0% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Howard County sits below Texas on garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Howard County: 3.2% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Texas: 1.7%).
Overview
Police reported 913 crashes involving commercial trucks in Howard County since 2015: 617 people were injured and 56 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 5 days.
When crashes happen
May has the most truck crashes, 10.1% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (6.0%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 39.7% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Texas.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (7.8%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 3.2% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in Texas.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Howard County is I-20, with 19 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by US-87 (8), SR-350 (5) and SR-176 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 0.1% of the total, against 1.1% across Texas.
Route planning tips for Howard County fleets
- Build extra time into May routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-20, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 3.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Texas; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- 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 Howard County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Howard County) |
|---|---|
| I-20 | 19 |
| US-87 | 8 |
| SR-350 | 5 |
| SR-176 | 2 |
| CR-35 | 1 |
| Fm 700 Marcy Dr | 1 |
| Fm 846 | 1 |
| Fm821 | 1 |
| Rm 33 | 1 |
| Rm33 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Howard County) |
|---|---|
| I-20 | 48 |
| US-87 | 18 |
| Sh 350 | 6 |
| Sh 176 | 5 |
| Fm 669 | 4 |
| N 1400 Lamesa Hwy | 4 |
| N 1000 Benton St | 3 |
| S 1700 Gregg St | 3 |
Howard County at a glance
| Population | 30,833 |
| Land area | 900.8 sq mi |
| Density | 34 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $71,815 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Howard 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 | 23 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 36 | +54% | 1.0 |
| 2010s | 73 | +104% | 3.0 |
| 2020s | 72 | -1% | 4.6 |
In the 1990s about 23 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 72. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 3.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 4.6 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Howard County
ZIP codes in Howard County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Howard County
How many truck crashes happen in Howard County?
Since 2015, 913 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Howard County (617 injured, 56 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Howard County?
Since 2015, I-20 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Howard County: 19.
When do most truck crashes happen in Howard County?
Truck crashes in Howard County peak in May, with 10.1% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Howard County?
Since 2015, Howard County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 0.1% of its truck crashes.
How does Howard County compare with Texas for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 255.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Howard County, vs 62.9 for Texas.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Howard 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.