Harrisonburg city, VA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Harrisonburg city: 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
4 of 355 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Harrisonburg city compares with Virginia
Harrisonburg city against Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Harrisonburg city stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Harrisonburg city | Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 58.3 | 51.1 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.1 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 19% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.37 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 16% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.2% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 52% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.8% | 3.0% | 6.2% | 40% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.6% | 22.7% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.4% | 14.8% | 13.8% | 9% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 45.7% | 39.8% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 23.5% | 24.3% | 24.8% | same |
Harrisonburg city has lower values than Virginia for deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above Virginia on crashes per 100k residents / yr and winter months (nov–mar).
What stands out in Harrisonburg city: 1 in 82 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 1.2%, vs 2.5% in Virginia.
Overview
Police reported 355 crashes involving commercial trucks in Harrisonburg city since 2015: 134 people were injured and 7 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 12 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
September has the most truck crashes, 10.4% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (5.9%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 45.7% of truck crashes, vs 39.8% for Virginia.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 8.5% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 1.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Virginia: 3.0%).
Where crashes happen
I-81 leads in Harrisonburg city with 6 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by US-11 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
4 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.1% share (Virginia: 2.5%).
Route planning tips for Harrisonburg city fleets
- Plan September schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Harrisonburg city.
- Look at alternatives to I-81 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 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 Harrisonburg city
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Harrisonburg city) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 6 |
| US-11 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Harrisonburg city) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 101 |
| S Main St | 23 |
| Interstate 81 South | 16 |
| Interstate 81 North | 15 |
| I-81 North | 11 |
| Virginia Ave | 8 |
| N Liberty St | 7 |
| I 81 South | 7 |
Harrisonburg city at a glance
| Population | 51,164 |
| Land area | 17.3 sq mi |
| Density | 2,951 per sq mi |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Harrisonburg city 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 | 9 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 15 | +70% | 0.1 |
| 2010s | 22 | +50% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 33 | +49% | 0.6 |
In the 1990s about 9 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 33. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 1.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.6 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Harrisonburg city
ZIP codes in Harrisonburg city
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Harrisonburg city
How many truck accidents are there in Harrisonburg city?
355 truck crashes have been reported in Harrisonburg city since 2015, with 7 deaths and 134 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Harrisonburg city?
Since 2015, I-81 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Harrisonburg city: 6.
When do most truck crashes happen in Harrisonburg city?
Truck crashes in Harrisonburg city peak in September, with 10.4% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Harrisonburg city?
Garbage trucks were involved in 4 reported crashes in Harrisonburg city since 2015 (1.1% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in Harrisonburg city compared with Virginia?
Harrisonburg city records 58.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 51.1 across Virginia.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Harrisonburg city?
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.