Pulaski County, VA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Pulaski 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
4 of 558 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Pulaski County compares with Virginia
Pulaski County against Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Pulaski County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Pulaski County | Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 144.6 | 51.1 | 49.7 | 2.8× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.4 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.51 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.8% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 71% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.9% | 3.0% | 6.2% | 3.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 16.5% | 22.7% | 23.7% | 27% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 26.4% | 14.8% | 13.8% | 1.8× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.9% | 39.8% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 32.0% | 24.3% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Compared with Virginia, Pulaski County is lower on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Virginia on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
Pulaski County at a glance: 9.9% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 3.0% in Virginia.
Overview
Since 2015, 558 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Pulaski County. They injured 274 people and killed 18.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 8 days.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 11.8% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (5.7%).
November through March accounts for 42.9% of truck crashes here, compared with 39.8% in Virginia.
More truck crashes happen at 2–3 pm than at any other hour (7.7%).
Road surface: 9.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Virginia: 3.0%).
Where crashes happen
I-81 leads in Pulaski County with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by SR-100 (2) and CR-643 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 4 crashes, 0.7% of the total, against 2.5% across Virginia.
Route planning tips for Pulaski County fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-81; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 9.9% of truck crashes here, more than Virginia; schedule winter checks early.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Pulaski County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Pulaski County) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 4 |
| SR-100 | 2 |
| CR-643 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Pulaski County) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 259 |
| I-81 North | 29 |
| Nb I-81 | 24 |
| I-81 South | 23 |
| Sb I-81 | 23 |
| Cleburne Blvd | 19 |
| Northbound Interstate 81 | 14 |
| Southbound Interstate 81 | 8 |
Pulaski County at a glance
| Population | 33,579 |
| Land area | 319.8 sq mi |
| Density | 105 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $62,091 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Pulaski 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 | 16 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 26 | +55% | 0.8 |
| 2010s | 38 | +49% | 0.6 |
| 2020s | 49 | +29% | 0.4 |
In the 1990s about 16 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 49. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.2 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Pulaski County
ZIP codes in Pulaski County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Pulaski County
How many truck crashes happen in Pulaski County?
558 truck crashes have been reported in Pulaski County since 2015, with 18 deaths and 274 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Pulaski County?
NHTSA data shows I-81 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes in Pulaski County since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Pulaski County?
The worst month is December: 11.8% of truck crashes in Pulaski County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Pulaski County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 4 reported crashes in Pulaski County since 2015 (0.7% of truck crashes).
How does Pulaski County compare with Virginia for truck crashes?
Pulaski County records 144.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 51.1 across Virginia.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Pulaski County?
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.