ZIP 78616 (Dale, TX) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 78616: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Caldwell 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
5 of 519 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Caldwell County compares with Texas
Caldwell County against Texas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Caldwell County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Caldwell County | Texas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 83.4 | 62.9 | 49.7 | 1.3× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.8 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.73 | 0.58 | 0.49 | 1.3× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.0% | 1.1% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 1.9% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 1.1× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 21.8% | 22.6% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 8.5% | 11.3% | 13.8% | 24% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 38.7% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 26.4% | 27.0% | 24.8% | same |
Caldwell County sits below Texas on in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for ZIP 78616: SR-21 deadliest road: 4 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 78616 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 519 crashes involving commercial trucks in Caldwell County since 2015: 369 people were injured and 29 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 8 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in August (10.0% of the year) and are lowest in December (5.0%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 38.7% of truck crashes, vs 40.8% for Texas.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (9.4%).
Road surface: 1.9% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Texas: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
SR-21 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 78616 with 4 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by Fm 1854 (2), SR-130 (2) and Fm 20 State Park Rd (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 5 of the truck crashes here, or 1.0%, compared with 1.1% in Texas.
Route planning tips for ZIP 78616 fleets
- Build extra time into August routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-21; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 1.9% of truck crashes here, more than Texas; schedule winter checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Caldwell County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-21 | 4 |
| Fm 1854 | 2 |
| SR-130 | 2 |
| Fm 20 State Park Rd | 1 |
| Fm 2001 | 1 |
| Fm 535 | 1 |
| Fm 672 | 1 |
| Fm 812 | 1 |
| Fm672 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Caldwell County) |
|---|---|
| E 900 Pierce St | 7 |
| Camino Real | 6 |
| Camino Real Hwy | 6 |
| San Marcos Hwy | 6 |
| Sh 130 | 6 |
| Blackjack St | 5 |
| N 200 Magnolia Ave | 5 |
| E 4100 Pierce St | 4 |
ZIP 78616 at a glance
| Population | 10,683 |
| Density | 35 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $64,715 |
| Median home value | $206,743 |
| Home ownership | 80% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Caldwell 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 | 20 | — | 1.1 |
| 2000s | 25 | +23% | 1.4 |
| 2010s | 35 | +42% | 1.5 |
| 2020s | 47 | +33% | 2.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 20 a year in the 1990s and 47 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. NHTSA counts 1.5 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 78616
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 78616?
519 truck crashes have been reported in Caldwell County since 2015, with 29 deaths and 369 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 78616?
NHTSA data shows SR-21 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 78616 since 2015, the highest of any road.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 78616?
Truck crashes in Caldwell County peak in August, with 10.0% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 78616?
5 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Caldwell County since 2015, 1.0% of all truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 78616 compared with Texas?
Caldwell County records 83.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 62.9 across Texas.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 78616?
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.