Smyth County, VA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Smyth 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
2 of 514 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Smyth County compares with Virginia
Smyth County against Virginia and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Smyth County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Smyth County | Virginia | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 149.1 | 51.1 | 49.7 | 2.9× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.0 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 9% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.2% | 2.5% | 2.3% | 92% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 5.0% | 3.0% | 6.2% | 1.7× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 14.2% | 22.7% | 23.7% | 37% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 37.9% | 14.8% | 13.8% | 2.6× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.1% | 39.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 31.4% | 24.3% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Smyth County sits below Virginia on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Smyth County: 37.9% of truck crashes happen in rain, sleet or snow, vs 14.8% in Virginia.
Overview
Since 2015, 514 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Smyth County. They injured 202 people and killed 20.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 8 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in May (11.3% of the year) and are lowest in December (5.4%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 39.1% of truck crashes, against 39.8% across Virginia.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 8.2% of truck crashes.
5.0% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 3.0% across Virginia.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks in Smyth County is I-81, with 7 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: CR-600 (1), CR-86 Whitetop Rd (1) and SR-11 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
2 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.4% share (Virginia: 2.5%).
Route planning tips for Smyth County fleets
- Build extra time into May routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to I-81 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 5.0% 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 Smyth County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Smyth County) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 7 |
| CR-600 | 1 |
| CR-86 Whitetop Rd | 1 |
| SR-11 | 1 |
| US-11 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Smyth County) |
|---|---|
| I-81 | 339 |
| Southbound Interstate 81 | 11 |
| SR-11 | 8 |
| I-81 North | 6 |
| I-81 South | 6 |
| Northbound Interstate 81 | 6 |
| SR-16 | 6 |
| SR-107 | 3 |
Smyth County at a glance
| Population | 29,137 |
| Land area | 451.4 sq mi |
| Density | 65 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $48,083 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Smyth 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 | 19 | — | 1.0 |
| 2000s | 28 | +46% | 0.9 |
| 2010s | 32 | +14% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 54 | +68% | 1.4 |
In the 1990s about 19 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 54. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.0 a year in 2016–19, 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Smyth County
ZIP codes in Smyth County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Smyth County
How common are truck crashes in Smyth County?
514 truck crashes have been reported in Smyth County since 2015, with 20 deaths and 202 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in Smyth County?
Since 2015, I-81 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes in Smyth County: 7.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Smyth County?
The worst month is May: 11.3% of truck crashes in Smyth County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Smyth County?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in Smyth County since 2015 (0.4% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in Smyth County compare with Virginia?
Smyth County records 149.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 51.1 across Virginia.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Smyth County?
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.