ZIP 71279 (Start, LA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 71279: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Richland Parish, 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 420 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Richland Parish compares with Louisiana
Richland Parish against Louisiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Richland Parish stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Richland Parish | Louisiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 171.7 | 81.5 | 49.7 | 2.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.1 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.7× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.63 | 0.77 | 0.49 | 18% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.4% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.4% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 3.2× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.8% | 23.6% | 23.7% | 12% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 15.1% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 35.3% | 40.3% | 41.9% | 12% below the state |
| After dark | 28.0% | 23.9% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Compared with Louisiana, Richland Parish is lower on injuries per crash, morning rush (6–10 am) and winter months (nov–mar). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Richland Parish: 2.4% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 0.8% across Louisiana.
Overview
Since 2015, 420 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Richland Parish. They injured 248 people and killed 19.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 11 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (11.9% of the year) and are lowest in December (6.0%).
November through March accounts for 35.3% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.3% in Louisiana.
The busiest hour is 3–4 pm, with 7.4% of truck crashes.
2.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.8% across Louisiana.
Where crashes happen
I-20 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 71279 with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by US-425 (2), US-80 (2) and SR-594 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 9 crashes, 2.1% of the total, against 2.2% across Louisiana.
Route planning tips for ZIP 71279 fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Richland Parish.
- Where you can, review stops along I-20; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- With 2.4% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Louisiana), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Richland Parish
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-20 | 5 |
| US-425 | 2 |
| US-80 | 2 |
| SR-594 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Richland Parish) |
|---|---|
| I-20 | 258 |
| US-80 | 37 |
| La-17 | 27 |
| US-425 | 15 |
| La-133 | 12 |
| La-15 | 11 |
| I-0 | 10 |
| La-183 | 9 |
ZIP 71279 at a glance
| Population | 50 |
| Density | 256 per sq mi |
| Home ownership | 0% |
Historical data: truck crashes in Richland Parish 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 | 14 | — | 0.8 |
| 2000s | 18 | +33% | 1.3 |
| 2010s | 28 | +55% | 0.8 |
| 2020s | 35 | +23% | 1.6 |
In the 1990s about 14 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 35. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 0.2 a year in 2016–19 and 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 71279
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 71279?
Since 2015, 420 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Richland Parish (248 injured, 19 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 71279?
NHTSA data shows I-20 with 5 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 71279 since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 71279?
The worst month is August: 11.9% of truck crashes in Richland Parish happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 71279?
9 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Richland Parish since 2015, 2.1% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 71279 compare with Louisiana for truck crashes?
Richland Parish records 171.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 81.5 across Louisiana.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 71279?
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.