ZIP 59721 (Cardwell, MT) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 59721: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Jefferson 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 382 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Jefferson County compares with Montana
Jefferson County against Montana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Jefferson County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Jefferson County | Montana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 241.9 | 64.3 | 49.7 | 3.8× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.8 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 1.3× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.29 | 0.34 | 0.49 | 15% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.3% | 0.9% | 2.3% | 70% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 39.3% | 39.4% | 6.2% | same |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 19.2% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 16% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.0% | 20.6% | 13.8% | 27% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 52.8% | 54.3% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 32.5% | 30.8% | 24.8% | same |
Jefferson County has lower values than Montana for injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr and deaths per 100 crashes.
The headline for Jefferson County: 1 in 357 crashes involve a garbage truck (1 since 2015), vs 0.9% across Montana.
Overview
Police reported 382 crashes involving commercial trucks in Jefferson County since 2015: 116 people were injured and 17 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 11 days.
When crashes happen
January has the most truck crashes, 11.8% of the yearly total, while May has the fewest (3.9%).
November through March accounts for 52.8% of truck crashes here, compared with 54.3% in Montana.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 8.4% of truck crashes.
39.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 39.4% across Montana.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 59721 happened on I-90 (2) and I- 90 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
1 crash involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.3% share (Montana: 0.9%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 59721 fleets
- Plan January schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Jefferson County.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Jefferson County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 2 |
| I- 90 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Jefferson County) |
|---|---|
| I-90 | 3 |
| Mm 14 Mt-69 | 2 |
| I-902 Mm237.7 | 1 |
| I-90E Mm239.8 | 1 |
| I-90E Mm259.1 | 1 |
| I-90W Mm255.9 | 1 |
| Mile 0.0 State Hwy 69 | 1 |
| Mm 155.0 I-15S | 1 |
ZIP 59721 at a glance
| Population | 423 |
| Density | 1 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $94,167 |
| Median home value | $740,704 |
| Home ownership | 75% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Jefferson 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 | 16 | — | 0.5 |
| 2010s | 24 | +57% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 36 | +48% | 1.4 |
In the 2000s about 16 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 36. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. NHTSA counts 0.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 59721
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 59721?
Jefferson County has had 382 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 116 people and killing 17.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 59721?
The worst month is January: 11.8% of truck crashes in Jefferson County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 59721?
1 crash involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Jefferson County since 2015, 0.3% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 59721 compare with Montana?
Per 100,000 residents, Jefferson County has 241.9 truck crashes a year; Montana has 64.3.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 59721?
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.