ZIP 59916 (Essex, MT) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 59916: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Flathead 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
9 of 379 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Flathead County compares with Montana
Flathead County against Montana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Flathead County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Flathead County | Montana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 27.5 | 64.3 | 49.7 | 57% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 6.4 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.34 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.6% | 0.9% | 2.3% | 2.8× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 20.2% | 39.4% | 6.2% | 49% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 27.2% | 22.9% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.6% | 20.6% | 13.8% | 34% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 37.3% | 54.3% | 41.9% | 31% below the state |
| After dark | 16.2% | 30.8% | 24.8% | 47% below the state |
Compared with Montana, Flathead County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. Where it is higher: deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Flathead County: 1 in 38 of truck crashes here involve garbage trucks: 2.6%, vs 0.9% in Montana.
Overview
Police reported 379 crashes involving commercial trucks in Flathead County since 2015: 152 people were injured and 23 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 12 days.
When crashes happen
July has the most truck crashes, 11.9% of the yearly total, while February has the fewest (4.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 37.3% of truck crashes, vs 54.3% for Montana.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 9.8% of truck crashes.
20.2% 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 59916 happened on US-2 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 9 crashes, 2.4% of the total, against 0.9% across Montana.
Route planning tips for ZIP 59916 fleets
- Plan July schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Flathead County.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 27.2% 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
This report uses the FMCSA crash file (reported crashes of trucks over 10,000 lb) and NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes). It reports the numbers without guessing at reasons.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Flathead County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-2 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Flathead County) |
|---|---|
| US-2 | 4 |
| Church Dr | 2 |
| Helena Flats Rd | 2 |
| Truck Route 9Th St | 2 |
| 1St Ave E / 11Th St | 1 |
| Blacktail Heights | 1 |
| Blacktail Rd | 1 |
| Glenwood Dr | 1 |
ZIP 59916 at a glance
| Population | 232 |
| Density | 1 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $60,250 |
| Median home value | $391,717 |
| Home ownership | 93% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Flathead 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 | — | — | 1.4 |
| 2000s | 39 | — | 1.3 |
| 2010s | 27 | -30% | 1.6 |
| 2020s | 33 | +22% | 2.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 39 a year in the 2000s and 33 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 2.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 59916
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 59916?
379 truck crashes have been reported in Flathead County since 2015, with 23 deaths and 152 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 59916?
The worst month is July: 11.9% of truck crashes in Flathead County happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 59916?
9 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Flathead County since 2015, 2.4% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 59916 compared with Montana?
Per 100,000 residents, Flathead County has 27.5 truck crashes a year; Montana has 64.3.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 59916?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.