Chatham, VA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Chatham: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Chatham and Pittsylvania County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Pittsylvania County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
6 of 399 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Pittsylvania County compares with Virginia
Pittsylvania County against Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Pittsylvania County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Pittsylvania County | Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 57.2 | 51.1 | 49.7 | 1.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.6 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 2.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.54 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 37% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.1% | 3.0% | 6.2% | 65% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.4% | 22.7% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.9% | 14.8% | 13.8% | 33% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.9% | 39.8% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 15.5% | 24.3% | 24.8% | 36% below the state |
Pittsylvania County sits below Virginia on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It runs above Virginia on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Pittsylvania County: 5.6 deaths per 100 truck crashes, vs 2.6 in Virginia.
Overview
Since 2015, 399 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Pittsylvania County. They injured 215 people and killed 21.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 11 days.
With 10 truck crashes reported in Chatham since 2015, this page uses Pittsylvania County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
86% of truck crash reports in Pittsylvania County since 2015 leave the city field blank; place counts include only reports that name the place.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 11.0% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 4.0%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 44.9% of truck crashes, vs 39.8% for Virginia.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 10.5% of truck crashes.
1.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 3.0% across Virginia.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-29 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). Next come CR-703 (1), CR-718 (1) and SR-41 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 6 crashes, 1.5% of the total, against 2.5% across Virginia.
Route planning tips for Chatham fleets
- Review driver schedules for August, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along US-29; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 25.4% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Virginia; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Pittsylvania County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-29 | 3 |
| CR-703 | 1 |
| CR-718 | 1 |
| SR-41 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Pittsylvania County) |
|---|---|
| SR-29 | 42 |
| US-29 | 27 |
| U.S Hwy 29 | 12 |
| SR-58 | 7 |
| Route 29 / Us Highway 29 | 6 |
| Rt 40 W Gretna Rd | 4 |
| Rt 58 South Boston Hwy | 4 |
| Rt 729 Kentuck Rd | 4 |
Chatham at a glance
| Population | 1,195 |
| Land area | 2.0 sq mi |
| Density | 589 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 24531) | $43,333 |
| Median home value (ZIP 24531) | $149,145 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Pittsylvania 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 | 24 | — | 1.8 |
| 2000s | 24 | -2% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 31 | +31% | 1.3 |
| 2020s | 34 | +11% | 2.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 24 a year in the 1990s and 34 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.5 a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Chatham
How common are truck crashes in Chatham?
Pittsylvania County has had 399 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 215 people and killing 21.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Chatham?
Since 2015, US-29 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Chatham: 3.
When do most truck crashes happen in Chatham?
Truck crashes in Pittsylvania County peak in August, with 11.0% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Chatham?
6 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Pittsylvania County since 2015, 1.5% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Chatham compared with Virginia?
The yearly rate is 57.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Pittsylvania County, vs 51.1 for Virginia.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Chatham?
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.