ZIP 59824 (Charlo, MT) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 59824: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Lake 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
2 of 138 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Lake County compares with Montana
Lake County against Montana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Lake County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Lake County | Montana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 34.3 | 64.3 | 49.7 | 47% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.1 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 1.9× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.50 | 0.34 | 0.49 | 1.5× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 0.9% | 2.3% | 1.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 19.8% | 39.4% | 6.2% | 50% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.6% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 16.7% | 20.6% | 13.8% | 19% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 46.0% | 54.3% | 41.9% | 15% below the state |
| After dark | 24.6% | 30.8% | 24.8% | 20% below the state |
Lake County sits below Montana on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
The headline for Lake County: 1 in 63 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 1.6%, vs 0.9% in Montana.
Overview
Police reported 138 crashes involving commercial trucks in Lake County since 2015: 68 people were injured and 10 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 32 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 14.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is March at 4.3%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 46.0% of truck crashes, vs 54.3% for Montana.
More truck crashes happen at 11 am–12 pm than at any other hour (11.6%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 19.8% of truck crashes, compared with 39.4% in Montana.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 59824 is US-93, with 5 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. It is followed by SR-200 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
2 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.4% share (Montana: 0.9%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 59824 fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to US-93 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 24.6% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Montana; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Lake County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-93 | 5 |
| SR-200 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Lake County) |
|---|---|
| US-93 | 3 |
| Mm 23.8 Us Highway 93 | 1 |
| Mm 48.2 Highway 93 | 1 |
| Mm 50.5 Us Hwy 93 | 1 |
| Mm48. 4 Hwy93 | 1 |
| Mm65.3 Hwy93 | 1 |
| Mm65.4 Us93 | 1 |
| Mm73.9 Us93 | 1 |
ZIP 59824 at a glance
| Population | 1,526 |
| Density | 6 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $53,382 |
| Median home value | $327,255 |
| Home ownership | 78% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Lake 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 | — | — | 1.7 |
| 2000s | 14 | — | 1.5 |
| 2010s | 10 | -33% | 0.5 |
| 2020s | 10 | +9% | 1.0 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 14 a year in the 2000s and 10 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 0.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 59824
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 59824?
Since 2015, 138 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Lake County (68 injured, 10 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 59824?
US-93 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 59824 since 2015, more than any other road.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 59824?
Truck crashes in Lake County peak in December, with 14.5% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 59824?
2 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Lake County since 2015, 1.4% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 59824 compared with Montana?
The yearly rate is 34.3 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Lake County, vs 64.3 for Montana.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 59824?
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.