ZIP 59448 (Heart Butte, MT) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 59448: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Pondera 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
1 of 73 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Pondera County compares with Montana
Pondera County against Montana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Pondera County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Pondera County | Montana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 98.7 | 64.3 | 49.7 | 1.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.0 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 21% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.34 | 0.49 | 1.4× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.5% | 0.9% | 2.3% | 1.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 34.8% | 39.4% | 6.2% | 12% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 16.7% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 27% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 18.2% | 20.6% | 13.8% | 12% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 50.0% | 54.3% | 41.9% | 8% below the state |
| After dark | 16.7% | 30.8% | 24.8% | 46% below the state |
Compared with Montana, Pondera County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, on snow, slush or ice and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Pondera County: 1 in 66 garbage-truck share of crashes is 1.5%, against 0.9% for Montana.
Overview
Police reported 73 crashes involving commercial trucks in Pondera County since 2015: 31 people were injured and 2 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 61 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (13.7% of the year) and are lowest in June (2.7%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 50.0% of truck crashes, against 54.3% across Montana.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 16.4% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 34.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Montana: 39.4%).
Where crashes happen
NHTSA lists no located fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 59448 since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.4% share (Montana: 0.9%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 59448 fleets
- Plan March schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Pondera County.
- 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 Pondera County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded within 10 miles since 2015.
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Pondera County) |
|---|---|
| Mm 346.0 I-15 | 2 |
| Mm 333.9 Interstate 15 | 1 |
| Mm 346.8 I-15 | 1 |
| Mm 347.0 I-15 | 1 |
| Mm13.2 Us-91 | 1 |
| Mp 334.4 I-15 | 1 |
| Us89S Mm 87.4 | 1 |
ZIP 59448 at a glance
| Population | 638 |
| Density | 3 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $32,083 |
| Home ownership | 39% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Pondera 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 | — | — | 0.1 |
| 2000s | 4 | — | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 5 | +27% | 0.0 |
| 2020s | 6 | +31% | 0.2 |
From the 2000s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 4 to 6. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 0.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 0.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 59448
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 59448?
Since 2015, 73 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Pondera County (31 injured, 2 killed).
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 59448?
Truck crashes in Pondera County peak in March, with 13.7% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 59448?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Pondera County since 2015 (1.4% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 59448 compare with Montana for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 98.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Pondera County, vs 64.3 for Montana.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 59448?
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.