ZIP 71457 (Natchitoches, LA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 71457: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Natchitoches 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
4 of 496 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Natchitoches Parish compares with Louisiana
Natchitoches Parish against Louisiana and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Natchitoches Parish stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Natchitoches Parish | Louisiana | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 118.5 | 81.5 | 49.7 | 1.5× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.4 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.67 | 0.77 | 0.49 | 13% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.9% | 2.2% | 2.3% | 61% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.4% | 0.8% | 6.2% | 43% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.3% | 23.6% | 23.7% | 14% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 9.0% | 10.5% | 13.8% | 14% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.9% | 40.3% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 31.8% | 23.9% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Natchitoches Parish sits below Louisiana on injuries per crash, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and after dark.
The headline for Natchitoches Parish: 1 in 118 garbage-truck share of crashes is 0.9%, against 2.2% for Louisiana.
Overview
Natchitoches Parish has recorded 496 truck crashes since 2015, with 328 people injured and 18 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 9 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 10.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 5.0%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.9% of truck crashes, vs 40.3% for Louisiana.
By time of day, 11 am–12 pm stands out with 7.9% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.4% of truck crashes, compared with 0.8% in Louisiana.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 71457 happened on I-49 (1), SR-1 (1), SR-6 (1), US-71 (1) and US-84 (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
4 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 0.8% share (Louisiana: 2.2%).
Route planning tips for ZIP 71457 fleets
- Plan December schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Natchitoches Parish.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Natchitoches Parish
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-49 | 1 |
| SR-1 | 1 |
| SR-6 | 1 |
| US-71 | 1 |
| US-84 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Natchitoches Parish) |
|---|---|
| I-49 | 217 |
| La-6 | 88 |
| La-1 | 36 |
| US-71 | 18 |
| La-9 | 13 |
| La-174 | 11 |
| La-486 | 10 |
| La-117 | 10 |
ZIP 71457 at a glance
| Population | 24,370 |
| Density | 35 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $46,668 |
| Median home value | $189,919 |
| Home ownership | 56% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Natchitoches 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 | 13 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 31 | +136% | 1.5 |
| 2010s | 44 | +43% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 41 | -7% | 1.6 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 13 to 41. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.5 a year in 2016–19 and 1.6 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 71457
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 71457?
Natchitoches Parish has had 496 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 328 people and killing 18.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 71457?
The worst month is December: 10.1% of truck crashes in Natchitoches Parish happen then.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 71457?
Since 2015, Natchitoches Parish has reported 4 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.8% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 71457 compare with Louisiana?
Per 100,000 residents, Natchitoches Parish has 118.5 truck crashes a year; Louisiana has 81.5.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 71457?
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.