Ben Wheeler, TX truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Ben Wheeler: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Ben Wheeler and Van Zandt County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Van Zandt County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
15 of 876 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Van Zandt County compares with Texas
Van Zandt County against Texas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Van Zandt County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Van Zandt County | Texas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 112.1 | 62.9 | 49.7 | 1.8× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.9 | 4.1 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.68 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.9% | 1.1% | 2.3% | 1.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.2% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.8% | 22.6% | 23.7% | 13% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 11.4% | 11.3% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.1% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 32.2% | 27.0% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Van Zandt County sits below Texas on morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Texas on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
Van Zandt County at a glance: 1 in 54 crashes involve a garbage truck (15 since 2015), vs 1.1% across Texas.
Overview
Van Zandt County has recorded 876 truck crashes since 2015, with 588 people injured and 35 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 5 days.
Ben Wheeler had 2 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Van Zandt County numbers.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 10.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is January at 6.8%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 39.1% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Texas.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 7.6% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 2.2% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in Texas.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-20 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (9). After it: SR-64 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 15 crashes, 1.7% of the total, against 1.1% across Texas.
Route planning tips for Ben Wheeler fleets
- Build extra time into August routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-20 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 2.2% 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 Van Zandt County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-20 | 9 |
| SR-64 | 3 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Van Zandt County) |
|---|---|
| I-20 | 37 |
| Sh 64 | 7 |
| 540Mm I 20 | 4 |
| S 1200 Oak St | 4 |
| Sh 19 | 3 |
| Sh 198 | 3 |
| Sh 243 | 3 |
| US-80 | 3 |
Ben Wheeler at a glance
| Land area | 3.0 sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 75754) | $69,815 |
| Median home value (ZIP 75754) | $284,856 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Van Zandt 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 | 38 | — | 1.8 |
| 2000s | 63 | +64% | 2.8 |
| 2010s | 55 | -12% | 2.3 |
| 2020s | 84 | +52% | 3.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 38 a year in the 1990s and 84 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 2.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Ben Wheeler
How many truck accidents are there in Ben Wheeler?
Since 2015, 876 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Van Zandt County (588 injured, 35 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Ben Wheeler?
I-20 had 9 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Ben Wheeler since 2015, more than any other road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Ben Wheeler?
The worst month is August: 10.5% of truck crashes in Van Zandt County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Ben Wheeler?
Since 2015, Van Zandt County has reported 15 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.7% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Ben Wheeler compare with Texas?
Van Zandt County records 112.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 62.9 across Texas.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Ben Wheeler?
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.