Potter County, TX truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Potter 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
13 of 1,566 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Potter County compares with Texas
Potter County against Texas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Potter County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Potter County | Texas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 116.8 | 62.9 | 49.7 | 1.9× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.3 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 20% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.51 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 12% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.8% | 1.1% | 2.3% | 32% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 8.7% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 5.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 18.1% | 22.6% | 23.7% | 20% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 10.7% | 11.3% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.6% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 29.0% | 27.0% | 24.8% | 1.1× the state |
Compared with Texas, Potter County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and after dark.
The headline for Potter County: 8.7% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Texas: 1.7%).
Overview
Police reported 1,566 crashes involving commercial trucks in Potter County since 2015: 794 people were injured and 54 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is July with 10.7% of truck crashes; the quietest is September at 7.0%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.6% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Texas.
By time of day, 10–11 am stands out with 7.2% of truck crashes.
8.7% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 1.7% across Texas.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Potter County is I-40, with 11 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come US-287 (7), SR-335 (5) and US-60 (5).
Garbage & waste trucks
13 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.8% share (Texas: 1.1%).
Route planning tips for Potter County fleets
- Build extra time into July routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-40; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 8.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Texas; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Potter County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Potter County) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 11 |
| US-287 | 7 |
| SR-335 | 5 |
| US-60 | 5 |
| Rm 1061 | 4 |
| SR-136 | 2 |
| Amarillo Blvd | 1 |
| Fm2575 8th Ave | 1 |
| SR-591 | 1 |
| Sl335 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Potter County) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 48 |
| Bell St | 10 |
| S 700 Lakeside Dr | 10 |
| Dumas Dr | 8 |
| S 1800 Lakeside Dr | 8 |
| River Rd | 7 |
| N 300 Lakeside Dr | 7 |
| Dumas Hwy | 6 |
Potter County at a glance
| Population | 114,649 |
| Land area | 908.4 sq mi |
| Density | 126 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $57,727 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Potter 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 | 99 | — | 2.6 |
| 2000s | 109 | +11% | 3.6 |
| 2010s | 107 | -2% | 3.9 |
| 2020s | 145 | +35% | 4.2 |
In the 1990s about 99 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 145. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 3.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 4.2 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Potter County
ZIP codes in Potter County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Potter County
How common are truck crashes in Potter County?
Since 2015, 1,566 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Potter County (794 injured, 54 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Potter County?
NHTSA data shows I-40 with 11 fatal large-truck crashes in Potter County since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Potter County?
The worst month is July: 10.7% of truck crashes in Potter County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Potter County?
13 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Potter County since 2015, 0.8% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Potter County compared with Texas?
The yearly rate is 116.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Potter County, vs 62.9 for Texas.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Potter County?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.