ZIP 78596 (Weslaco, TX) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 78596: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Hidalgo 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
0.0 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.1 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Hidalgo County compares with Texas
Hidalgo County against Texas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Hidalgo County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Hidalgo County | Texas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 29.2 | 62.9 | 49.7 | 54% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.1 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 49% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.95 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 1.6× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.1% | 1.1% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.4% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 75% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 17.8% | 22.6% | 23.7% | 22% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.6% | 11.3% | 13.8% | 24% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.1% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.2% | 27.0% | 24.8% | 22% below the state |
Hidalgo County has lower values than Texas for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher injuries per crash.
Hidalgo County at a glance: 0.4% of truck crashes happened on snow, slush or ice, vs 1.7% in Texas.
Overview
Hidalgo County has recorded 3,121 truck crashes since 2015, with 2,969 people injured and 65 killed.
That averages about 1 truck crash a day in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in March (9.3% of the year) and are lowest in July (6.7%).
November through March accounts for 43.1% of truck crashes here, compared with 40.8% in Texas.
By time of day, 2–3 pm stands out with 8.5% of truck crashes.
0.4% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 1.7% across Texas.
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 78596 happened on I-2 (3), US-281 (3), Fm 491 (2), Fm 1015 (1) and Fm 1425 Mile 2 Rd (1); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
34 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.1% share (Texas: 1.1%).
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in September (15%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 0.0, vs 2.1 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 78596 fleets
- Review driver schedules for March, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in September; review collection routes for that month.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
About the data
Crash counts come from the FMCSA crash file (police-reported crashes involving trucks over 10,000 lb); fatal-crash locations come from NHTSA FARS. Text on this page states only what these numbers show.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Hidalgo County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-2 | 3 |
| US-281 | 3 |
| Fm 491 | 2 |
| Fm 1015 | 1 |
| Fm 1425 Mile 2 Rd | 1 |
| Westgate Dr | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Hidalgo County) |
|---|---|
| S 9901 Cage Blvd | 19 |
| Monte Cristo Rd | 15 |
| Military Hwy | 14 |
| E 1300 Monte Cristo Rd | 14 |
| Alamo Rd | 11 |
| S 9900 Cage Blvd | 9 |
| Moorefield Rd | 8 |
| N 4600 Cage Blvd | 8 |
ZIP 78596 at a glance
| Population | 39,518 |
| Density | 380 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $58,411 |
| Median home value | $109,980 |
| Home ownership | 64% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Hidalgo 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 | 178 | — | 5.6 |
| 2000s | 196 | +10% | 6.6 |
| 2010s | 199 | +2% | 4.1 |
| 2020s | 296 | +48% | 5.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 178 a year in the 1990s and 296 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 4.2 a year in 2016–19, 5.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 78596
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 78596?
Hidalgo County has had 3,121 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 2,969 people and killing 65.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 78596?
March has the most truck crashes in Hidalgo County, 9.3% of the yearly total.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 78596?
Garbage trucks were involved in 34 reported crashes in Hidalgo County since 2015 (1.1% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 78596 compare with Texas?
The yearly rate is 29.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Hidalgo County, vs 62.9 for Texas.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 78596?
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.