ZIP 72901 (Fort Smith, AR) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 72901: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Sebastian 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
19 of 629 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Sebastian County compares with Arkansas
Sebastian County against Arkansas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Sebastian County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Sebastian County | Arkansas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 41.6 | 92.4 | 49.7 | 55% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.0 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 49% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.40 | 0.45 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.0% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.9× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.3% | 3.3% | 6.2% | 60% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.9% | 22.9% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.7% | 15.4% | 13.8% | 43% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 36.0% | 40.9% | 41.9% | 12% below the state |
| After dark | 14.4% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 36% below the state |
Compared with Arkansas, Sebastian County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share.
What stands out in Sebastian County: 1 in 33 garbage-truck share of crashes is 3.0%, against 1.6% for Arkansas.
Overview
Since 2015, 629 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Sebastian County. They injured 257 people and killed 13.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 7 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 11.9% of truck crashes; the quietest is December at 5.2%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 36.0% of truck crashes, against 40.9% across Arkansas.
By time of day, 1–2 pm stands out with 10.2% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 1.3% of truck crashes, compared with 3.3% in Arkansas.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 72901 is I-40, with 5 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. Next come US-64 (4), I-540 (2) and SR-255 (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 19 of the truck crashes here, or 3.0%, compared with 1.6% in Arkansas.
Route planning tips for ZIP 72901 fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Sebastian County.
- Look at alternatives to I-40 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Sebastian County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 5 |
| US-64 | 4 |
| I-540 | 2 |
| SR-255 | 2 |
| SR-59 | 2 |
| US-71 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Sebastian County) |
|---|---|
| US-71 | 67 |
| Sh22 | 29 |
| I-540E | 27 |
| US-71S | 25 |
| I-540W | 23 |
| Cst(Phoenix Avenue) | 22 |
| Sh255 | 22 |
| I-540 | 21 |
ZIP 72901 at a glance
| Population | 19,819 |
| Density | 876 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $42,851 |
| Median home value | $115,160 |
| Home ownership | 43% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Sebastian 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 | 30 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 47 | +57% | 1.1 |
| 2010s | 49 | +4% | 0.9 |
| 2020s | 61 | +25% | 1.2 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 30 a year in the 1990s and 61 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.0 a year in 2016–19 and 1.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 72901
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 72901?
Since 2015, 629 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Sebastian County (257 injured, 13 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in ZIP 72901?
Since 2015, I-40 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 72901: 5.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 72901?
The worst month is August: 11.9% of truck crashes in Sebastian County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 72901?
Since 2015, Sebastian County has reported 19 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.0% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 72901 compared with Arkansas?
Sebastian County records 41.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 92.4 across Arkansas.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 72901?
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.