ZIP 59401 (Great Falls, MT) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 59401: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Cascade County, 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 268 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Cascade County compares with Montana
Cascade County against Montana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cascade County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cascade County | Montana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 27.7 | 64.3 | 49.7 | 57% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.8 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.28 | 0.34 | 0.49 | 18% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 0.9% | 2.3% | 1.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 36.0% | 39.4% | 6.2% | 8% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.5% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 21.3% | 20.6% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 55.0% | 54.3% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 28.3% | 30.8% | 24.8% | 8% below the state |
Cascade County has lower values than Montana for crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and on snow, slush or ice. It runs above Montana on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
Cascade County at a glance: 1 in 65 crashes involve a garbage truck (4 since 2015), vs 0.9% across Montana.
Overview
Since 2015, 268 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Cascade County. They injured 74 people and killed 15.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 16 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in January (12.7% of the year) and are lowest in April (4.1%).
November through March accounts for 55.0% of truck crashes here, compared with 54.3% in Montana.
More truck crashes happen at 9–10 am than at any other hour (10.1%).
Road surface: 36.0% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Montana: 39.4%).
Where crashes happen
I-15 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 59401 with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: Central Ave W (1), Lr- Central Ave W (1) and US-87 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 4 crashes, 1.5% of the total, against 0.9% across Montana.
Route planning tips for ZIP 59401 fleets
- Build extra time into January routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along I-15; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 27.5% of truck crashes here, more than Montana; adjust start times where you can.
- 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 Cascade County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-15 | 3 |
| Central Ave W | 1 |
| Lr- Central Ave W | 1 |
| US-87 | 1 |
| US-89 | 1 |
| Us-Hwy 87 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cascade County) |
|---|---|
| Mm 1.9 Us Highway 87E | 2 |
| 23Rd St S & 10Th Ave | 1 |
| 87.5 Eb Us Hwy 87/89E | 1 |
| I-15 Nb Mp 278 | 1 |
| I-15 Sb Mp 254 | 1 |
| Lower River Rd | 1 |
| Mm 5.4 Us Highway 89/Montana 200 | 1 |
| Mm 59.6 Us 89S | 1 |
ZIP 59401 at a glance
| Population | 13,255 |
| Density | 1,728 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $55,299 |
| Median home value | $223,873 |
| Home ownership | 55% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cascade 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 | — | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 21 | — | 0.4 |
| 2010s | 25 | +19% | 0.7 |
| 2020s | 20 | -19% | 2.0 |
From the 2000s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 21 to 20. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.0 a year in 2016–19, 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 59401
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 59401?
268 truck crashes have been reported in Cascade County since 2015, with 15 deaths and 74 injuries.
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 59401?
I-15 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 59401 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 59401?
January has the most truck crashes in Cascade County, 12.7% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 59401?
4 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Cascade County since 2015, 1.5% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 59401 compare with Montana for truck crashes?
Per 100,000 residents, Cascade County has 27.7 truck crashes a year; Montana has 64.3.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 59401?
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.