ZIP 78521 (Brownsville, TX) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 78521: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Cameron 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 1,016 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Cameron County compares with Texas
Cameron County against Texas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Cameron County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Cameron County | Texas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 20.1 | 62.9 | 49.7 | 68% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.5 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.79 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 1.4× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.8% | 1.1% | 2.3% | 24% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.6% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 62% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.5% | 22.6% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.1% | 11.3% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.3% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.4% | 27.0% | 24.8% | 13% below the state |
Cameron County sits below Texas on crashes per 100k residents / yr, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and in rain, sleet or snow.
Cameron County at a glance: 0.6% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 1.7% across Texas.
Overview
Cameron County has recorded 1,016 truck crashes since 2015, with 786 people injured and 45 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 4 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is July with 10.1% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 7.1%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.3% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Texas.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (7.4%).
Road surface: 0.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Texas: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 78521 since 2015: SR-4 (2) and SR-48 (1). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 9 of the truck crashes here, or 0.9%, compared with 1.1% in Texas.
Route planning tips for ZIP 78521 fleets
- Build extra time into July routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- 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 Cameron County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-4 | 2 |
| SR-48 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Cameron County) |
|---|---|
| Padre Island Hwy | 43 |
| Boca Chica Blvd | 28 |
| Fm 511 | 19 |
| International Blvd | 18 |
| Ruben M Torres Blvd | 15 |
| Paredes Line Rd | 14 |
| Military Hwy | 14 |
| Senator Eddie Lucio Jr Hwy | 13 |
ZIP 78521 at a glance
| Population | 87,380 |
| Density | 360 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $44,509 |
| Median home value | $104,059 |
| Home ownership | 60% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Cameron 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 | 110 | — | 2.8 |
| 2000s | 90 | -18% | 1.7 |
| 2010s | 71 | -22% | 2.2 |
| 2020s | 92 | +29% | 3.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 110 a year in the 1990s and 92 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 2.0 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 3.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 78521
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 78521?
Cameron County has had 1,016 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 786 people and killing 45.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 78521?
Truck crashes in Cameron County peak in July, with 10.1% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 78521?
9 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Cameron County since 2015, 0.9% of all truck crashes.
How does ZIP 78521 compare with Texas for truck crashes?
Cameron County records 20.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 62.9 across Texas.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 78521?
Paste your stops into the free CurbWaste Route Planner: it scores your route against fatal-crash locations, suggests safer alternatives and flags low bridges.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.