Spokane, WA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Spokane: 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.5 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Spokane compares with Washington
Spokane against Washington and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Spokane stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Spokane | Washington | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 27.3 | 25.8 | 49.7 | same |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.14 | 0.18 | 0.49 | 22% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.9% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.3× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 17.3% | 9.7% | 6.2% | 1.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 32.2% | 24.8% | 23.7% | 1.3× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.2% | 20.2% | 13.8% | 10% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 47.3% | 43.8% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 21.6% | 25.2% | 24.8% | 14% below the state |
Spokane has lower values than Washington for injuries per crash, in rain, sleet or snow and after dark. It runs above Washington on garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am).
The headline for Spokane: 2.0× yearly fatal truck crashes within 15 miles of Spokane: 2.0 in 2016–19, 4.0 in 2020–24.
Overview
Spokane has recorded 721 truck crashes since 2015, with 103 people injured and 24 killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 6 days.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 12.1% of the yearly total, while April has the fewest (5.1%).
November through March accounts for 47.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 43.8% in Washington.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 9.8% of truck crashes.
17.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 9.7% across Washington.
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 15 miles of Spokane since 2015 were spread across roads: I-90 (6), SR-290 (6), US-2 (5), SR-206 (2) and CR-ARGONNE (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 21 crashes, 2.9% of the total, against 2.2% across Washington.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in January (19% of them).
They recorded 0.0 deaths per 100 crashes, against 3.5 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for Spokane fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in January; review collection routes for that month.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 32.2% of truck crashes here, more than Washington; adjust start times where you can.
- 17.3% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above Washington; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Spokane
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 15 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 6 |
| SR-290 | 6 |
| US-2 | 5 |
| SR-206 | 2 |
| CR-ARGONNE | 1 |
| CR-N Wood Rd | 1 |
| E Broadway Ave | 1 |
| Mu-E Bigelow Gulch Rd | 1 |
| Mu-E Hartson Ave | 1 |
| Mu-E Nebraska Ave | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Spokane) |
|---|---|
| S Stevens St Blk 100 | 6 |
| Altamont/Main | 4 |
| Trent | 4 |
| W 16Th Ave Blk 2600 | 3 |
| Trent Ave/Napa St | 3 |
| Stevens St Blk 100 | 3 |
| S Stevens Blk 100 | 3 |
| Sr 195 068.60 | 2 |
Spokane at a glance
| Population | 230,609 |
| Land area | 68.8 sq mi |
| Density | 3,354 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 99201) | $41,171 |
| Median home value (ZIP 99201) | $317,142 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Spokane 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 | 45 | — | 3.1 |
| 2000s | 52 | +17% | 2.0 |
| 2010s | 53 | +2% | 2.5 |
| 2020s | 68 | +28% | 5.0 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 45 to 68. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 3.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 5.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Spokane
How many truck crashes happen in Spokane?
Spokane has had 721 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 103 people and killing 24.
When do most truck crashes happen in Spokane?
December has the most truck crashes in Spokane, 12.1% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Spokane?
21 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Spokane since 2015, 2.9% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in Spokane compared with Washington?
Spokane records 27.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 25.8 across Washington.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in Spokane?
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.