Nelson County, VA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Nelson County: 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
1 of 161 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Nelson County compares with Virginia
Nelson County against Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Nelson County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Nelson County | Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 94.2 | 51.1 | 49.7 | 1.8× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.2 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 2.8× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.7% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 75% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 7.2% | 3.0% | 6.2% | 2.4× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.9% | 22.7% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 21.6% | 14.8% | 13.8% | 1.5× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.1% | 39.8% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 31.4% | 24.3% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Nelson County sits below Virginia on garbage-truck share. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
The headline for Nelson County: 7.2% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Virginia: 3.0%).
Overview
Since 2015, 161 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Nelson County. They injured 77 people and killed 11.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 26 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is June with 10.6% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 5.0%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.1% of truck crashes, against 39.8% across Virginia.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 9.9% of truck crashes.
7.2% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 3.0% across Virginia.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Nelson County is US-29, with 5 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: CR-657 (2), CR-639 (1) and SR-151 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 1 of the truck crashes here, or 0.6%, compared with 2.5% in Virginia.
Route planning tips for Nelson County fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Nelson County.
- Check whether your routes use US-29, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 7.2% of truck crashes here, more than Virginia; schedule winter checks early.
- 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 Nelson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Nelson County) |
|---|---|
| US-29 | 5 |
| CR-657 | 2 |
| CR-639 | 1 |
| SR-151 | 1 |
| SR-6 | 1 |
| US-9 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Nelson County) |
|---|---|
| SR-29 | 21 |
| Thomas Nelson Hwy | 15 |
| Sb Rt 29 | 9 |
| Nb Rt 29 | 7 |
| Rt 29 South | 6 |
| SR-6 | 6 |
| Route 29 South Thomas Nelson Highway | 5 |
| Rt 29 Thomas Nelson Hwy | 5 |
Nelson County at a glance
| Population | 14,766 |
| Land area | 470.7 sq mi |
| Density | 31 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $82,087 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Nelson 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 | 8 | — | 0.5 |
| 2000s | 11 | +44% | 0.4 |
| 2010s | 12 | +12% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 15 | +21% | 1.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 8 a year in the 1990s and 15 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Nelson County
ZIP codes in Nelson County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Nelson County
How common are truck crashes in Nelson County?
Since 2015, 161 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Nelson County (77 injured, 11 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Nelson County?
Since 2015, US-29 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Nelson County: 5.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in Nelson County?
The worst month is June: 10.6% of truck crashes in Nelson County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Nelson County?
Since 2015, Nelson County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 0.6% of its truck crashes.
How does Nelson County compare with Virginia for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Nelson County has 94.2 truck crashes a year; Virginia has 51.1.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Nelson County?
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.