Montpelier, VT truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Montpelier: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Montpelier 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 stands out for higher garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
Washington County at a glance: December the month with the most truck crashes: 13.1% of the year's total.
Overview
Police reported 198 crashes involving commercial trucks in Washington County since 2015: 81 people were injured and 6 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 22 days.
With 34 truck crashes reported in Montpelier since 2015, this page uses Washington County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in December (13.1% of the year) and are lowest in September (4.0%).
November through March accounts for 49.7% of truck crashes here, compared with 50.2% in Vermont.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 11.6% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 24.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Vermont: 23.6%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of Montpelier since 2015: I-89 (1) and US-302 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 8 of the truck crashes here, or 4.0%, compared with 3.3% in Vermont.
Route planning tips for Montpelier fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 31.4% of truck crashes here, more than Vermont; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 Washington County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-89 | 1 |
| US-302 | 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 |
Montpelier at a glance
| Population | 7,915 |
| Land area | 10.1 sq mi |
| Density | 787 per sq mi |
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 |
In the 1990s about 11 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 16. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.8 a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Montpelier
How common are truck crashes in Montpelier?
Washington County has had 198 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 81 people and killing 6.
Which month has the most truck crashes in Montpelier?
December has the most truck crashes in Washington County, 13.1% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Montpelier?
Since 2015, Washington County has reported 8 garbage-truck crashes, or 4.0% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Montpelier compare with Vermont?
Per 100,000 residents, Washington County has 28.1 truck crashes a year; Vermont has 28.2.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in Montpelier?
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.