Lindale, TX truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Lindale: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Lindale and Smith County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Smith County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
7.1 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 4.8 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Smith County compares with Texas
Smith County against Texas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Smith County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Smith County | Texas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 86.0 | 62.9 | 49.7 | 1.4× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.8 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 1.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.71 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.8% | 1.1% | 2.3% | 1.6× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.7% | 1.7% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.2% | 22.6% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.2% | 11.3% | 13.8% | 1.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.3% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.2% | 27.0% | 24.8% | 14% below the state |
Smith County sits below Texas on after dark. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Smith County: 1 in 56 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 1.8%, vs 1.1% in Texas.
Overview
Since 2015, 2,497 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Smith County. They injured 1,784 people and killed 124.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 2 days.
Only 180 truck crashes were reported in Lindale since 2015; patterns below come from Smith County as a whole.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in July (9.7% of the year) and are lowest in January (6.2%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 39.3% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Texas.
The busiest hour is 12–1 pm, with 8.0% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 1.7% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in Texas.
Where crashes happen
I-20 leads within 10 miles of Lindale with 13 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come SR-49 (3), SR-323 (2) and SR-64 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 43 crashes, 1.7% of the total, against 1.1% across Texas.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in April (16% of them).
They recorded 7.1 deaths per 100 crashes, against 4.8 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Lindale fleets
- Plan July schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Smith County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-20; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in April; review collection routes for that month.
- 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 Smith County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-20 | 13 |
| SR-49 | 3 |
| SR-323 | 2 |
| SR-64 | 2 |
| 49 Tollway Ramp | 1 |
| Fm 14 | 1 |
| Fm 1804 | 1 |
| Main Street | 1 |
| Sl 323/Northwest Hwy | 1 |
| Tl 49 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Smith County) |
|---|---|
| I-20 | 74 |
| Old Jacksonville Hwy | 22 |
| Troup Hwy | 20 |
| Mineola Hwy | 13 |
| Frankston Hwy | 10 |
| Paluxy Dr | 10 |
| Loop 323 | 9 |
| Sh 155 | 9 |
Lindale at a glance
| Population | 7,227 |
| Land area | 6.2 sq mi |
| Density | 1,169 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 75771) | $93,462 |
| Median home value (ZIP 75771) | $302,458 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Smith 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 | 125 | — | 3.5 |
| 2000s | 188 | +50% | 6.7 |
| 2010s | 172 | -8% | 5.9 |
| 2020s | 225 | +31% | 8.2 |
In the 1990s about 125 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 225. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 5.5 a year in 2016–19, 8.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Lindale
How common are truck crashes in Lindale?
2,497 truck crashes have been reported in Smith County since 2015, with 124 deaths and 1,784 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Lindale?
I-20 had 13 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Lindale since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Lindale?
Truck crashes in Smith County peak in July, with 9.7% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Lindale?
43 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Smith County since 2015, 1.7% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Lindale compared with Texas?
The yearly rate is 86.0 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Smith County, vs 62.9 for Texas.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Lindale?
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.