ZIP 59520 (Big Sandy, MT) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 59520: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Chouteau 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
0 of 65 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Chouteau County compares with Montana
Chouteau County against Montana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Chouteau County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Chouteau County | Montana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 86.6 | 64.3 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 16.1 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 4.2× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.38 | 0.34 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 0.9% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 8.9% | 39.4% | 6.2% | 77% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.8% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 3.6% | 20.6% | 13.8% | 83% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.3% | 54.3% | 41.9% | 28% below the state |
| After dark | 12.5% | 30.8% | 24.8% | 59% below the state |
Chouteau County has lower values than Montana for garbage-truck share, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Chouteau County: 16.1 deaths for every 100 truck crashes, against 3.8 across Montana.
Overview
Police reported 65 crashes involving commercial trucks in Chouteau County since 2015: 24 people were injured and 9 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 72 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is July with 13.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 3.1%.
November through March accounts for 39.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 54.3% in Montana.
By time of day, 8–9 am stands out with 12.3% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 8.9% 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 59520 since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
No crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Chouteau County since 2015.
Route planning tips for ZIP 59520 fleets
- Plan July schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Chouteau County.
- Morning starts matter: 26.8% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Montana.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Chouteau 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 (Chouteau County) |
|---|---|
| Mm 80.3 Us Hwy 87 | 2 |
| Mm20.5 Us Highway 87 | 2 |
| Bootlegger Trl Nb Mp 29 | 1 |
| Mm 8.1 Mt Highway 80 | 1 |
| Mm47.3 Us87 | 1 |
| S Hwy 223 | 1 |
| Us Hwy 87 Mm 31.8 | 1 |
ZIP 59520 at a glance
| Population | 1,261 |
| Density | 0 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $62,109 |
| Median home value | $204,093 |
| Home ownership | 72% |
Historical data: truck crashes in Chouteau 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 | — | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 4 | — | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 4 | +9% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 6 | +46% | 0.4 |
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. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.0 a year in 2016–19 and 0.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 59520
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 59520?
Since 2015, 65 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Chouteau County (24 injured, 9 killed).
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 59520?
The worst month is July: 13.8% of truck crashes in Chouteau County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 59520?
0 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Chouteau County since 2015, 0.0% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 59520 compare with Montana?
Chouteau County records 86.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 64.3 across Montana.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 59520?
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.