Tatum, TX truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Tatum: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Tatum and Rusk County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Rusk County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
3 of 657 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Rusk County compares with Texas
Rusk County against Texas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Rusk County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Rusk County | Texas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 106.4 | 62.9 | 49.7 | 1.7× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 8.3 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 2.0× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.64 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.5% | 1.1% | 2.3% | 56% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.3% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 81% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.0% | 22.6% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.3% | 11.3% | 13.8% | 18% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.6% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 24.0% | 27.0% | 24.8% | 11% below the state |
Compared with Texas, Rusk County is lower on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Rusk County: 8.3 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 4.1 across Texas.
Overview
Rusk County has recorded 657 truck crashes since 2015, with 420 people injured and 56 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 6 days.
Only 9 truck crashes were reported in Tatum since 2015; patterns below come from Rusk County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (10.0% of the year) and are lowest in November (6.4%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.6% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Texas.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 7.6% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Texas: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
SR-43 leads within 10 miles of Tatum with 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come SR-149 (2) and Fm 1716 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 3 crashes, 0.5% of the total, against 1.1% across Texas.
Route planning tips for Tatum fleets
- Build extra time into March routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to SR-43 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 25.0% of truck crashes here, more than Texas; adjust start times where you can.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Rusk County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-43 | 6 |
| SR-149 | 2 |
| Fm 1716 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Rusk County) |
|---|---|
| US-259 | 8 |
| Kilgore Dr | 7 |
| N Railroad Ave | 5 |
| Sh 149 | 3 |
| Hill St | 2 |
| N 1600 Kilgore Dr | 2 |
| N 1600 Us Hwy 259 N Hwy | 2 |
| N 700 Highway 79 N Hwy | 2 |
Tatum at a glance
| Population | 1,400 |
| Land area | 3.8 sq mi |
| Density | 370 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 75691) | $89,353 |
| Median home value (ZIP 75691) | $197,907 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Rusk 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 | 81 | — | 2.1 |
| 2000s | 65 | -19% | 3.2 |
| 2010s | 57 | -12% | 3.1 |
| 2020s | 58 | +1% | 3.8 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 81 a year in the 1990s and 58 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 4.5 a year in 2016–19 and 3.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Tatum
How common are truck crashes in Tatum?
Since 2015, 657 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Rusk County (420 injured, 56 killed).
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in Tatum?
SR-43 had 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Tatum since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Tatum?
The worst month is March: 10.0% of truck crashes in Rusk County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Tatum?
3 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Rusk County since 2015, 0.5% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Tatum compared with Texas?
Rusk County records 106.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 62.9 across Texas.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Tatum?
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.