Canton, TX truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Canton: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Canton 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 has lower values than Texas for morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Texas on crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Van Zandt County: 1 in 54 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 1.9%, vs 1.1% in Texas.
Overview
Police reported 876 crashes involving commercial trucks in Van Zandt County since 2015: 588 people were injured and 35 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 5 days.
Only 109 truck crashes were reported in Canton since 2015; patterns below come from Van Zandt County as a whole.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 10.5% of the yearly total, while January has the fewest (6.8%).
November through March accounts for 39.1% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.8% in Texas.
The busiest hour is 2–3 pm, 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-19 (3), SR-64 (2) and SR-198 (1).
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 Canton fleets
- Build extra time into August routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-20; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 2.2% 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
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
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-19 | 3 |
| SR-64 | 2 |
| SR-198 | 1 |
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 |
Canton at a glance
| Population | 4,841 |
| Land area | 6.2 sq mi |
| Density | 786 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 75103) | $71,013 |
| Median home value (ZIP 75103) | $239,055 |
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 Canton
How common are truck crashes in Canton?
876 truck crashes have been reported in Van Zandt County since 2015, with 35 deaths and 588 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Canton?
NHTSA data shows I-20 with 9 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Canton since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Canton?
August has the most truck crashes in Van Zandt County, 10.5% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in Canton?
Garbage trucks were involved in 15 reported crashes in Van Zandt County since 2015 (1.7% of truck crashes).
How does Canton compare with Texas for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 112.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Van Zandt County, vs 62.9 for Texas.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Canton?
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.