Calais, VT truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Calais: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Calais and Washington County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use Washington County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
8 of 198 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Washington County compares with Vermont
Washington County against Vermont and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Washington County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Washington County | Vermont | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 28.1 | 28.2 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.2 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 11% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.42 | 0.40 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.3% | 3.3% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 24.3% | 23.6% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 31.4% | 27.9% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 25.4% | 26.7% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 49.7% | 50.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 13.0% | 17.6% | 24.8% | 26% below the state |
Compared with Vermont, Washington County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes and after dark. It runs above Vermont on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Washington County: December the month with the most truck crashes: 13.1% of the year's total.
Overview
Since 2015, 198 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Washington County. They injured 81 people and killed 6.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 22 days.
Calais had 2 reported truck crashes since 2015, too few for reliable patterns, so the charts and findings on this page use Washington County numbers.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (13.1% of the year) and are lowest in September (4.0%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 49.7% of truck crashes, against 50.2% across Vermont.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 11.6% of truck crashes.
24.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 23.6% across Vermont.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of Calais happened on US-2 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 8 crashes, 4.0% of the total, against 3.3% across Vermont.
Route planning tips for Calais fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Washington County.
- 31.4% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Vermont; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Washington County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-2 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Washington County) |
|---|---|
| I-89 | 8 |
| Main St | 3 |
| I-89 South Mm 52, Exit 8 | 2 |
| Memorial Dr, Bailey Ave | 2 |
| Memorial Drive, National Life Drive | 2 |
| Paine Tpk N, Parking Lot | 2 |
| Paine Turnpike North | 2 |
| Sterling Hill Rd, S Barre Rd | 2 |
Calais at a glance
| Population | 1,668 |
| Land area | 37.9 sq mi |
| Density | 44 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 05640) | $114,375 |
| Median home value (ZIP 05640) | $298,240 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Washington 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 | 11 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 15 | +40% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 20 | +28% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 16 | -16% | 0.2 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 11 to 16. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.8 a year in 2016–19, 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Calais
How many truck crashes happen in Calais?
Since 2015, 198 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Washington County (81 injured, 6 killed).
Which month has the most truck crashes in Calais?
The worst month is December: 13.1% of truck crashes in Washington County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in Calais?
8 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Washington County since 2015, 4.0% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Calais compare with Vermont?
The yearly rate is 28.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Washington County, vs 28.2 for Vermont.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Calais?
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.