ZIP 78731 (Austin, TX) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 78731: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Travis 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
11.8 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 3.5 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Travis County compares with Texas
Travis County against Texas and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Travis County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Travis County | Texas | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 39.1 | 62.9 | 49.7 | 38% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 3.5 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 15% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.56 | 0.58 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 1.6% | 1.1% | 2.3% | 1.4× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.7% | 1.7% | 6.2% | 59% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.9% | 22.6% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.6% | 11.3% | 13.8% | 32% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 40.3% | 40.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 27.2% | 27.0% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with Texas, Travis County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
ZIP 78731 at a glance: I-35 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 78731: 30 since 2015.
Overview
Travis County has recorded 6,177 truck crashes since 2015, with 3,458 people injured and 217 killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about 1 truck crash a day.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in June (9.2% of the year) and are lowest in December (7.2%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 40.3% of truck crashes, vs 40.8% for Texas.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 7.2% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 0.7% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Texas: 1.7%).
Where crashes happen
I-35 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 78731 with 30 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. Next come US-183 (5), SR-45 (3) and US-290 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
97 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 1.6% share (Texas: 1.1%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in March (13% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 11.8, vs 3.5 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 78731 fleets
- Plan June schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Travis County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-35; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Waste haulers: March is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Travis County.
- Morning starts matter: 24.9% of truck crashes fall between 6 and 10 am, higher than Texas.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
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 Travis County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-35 | 30 |
| US-183 | 5 |
| SR-45 | 3 |
| US-290 | 3 |
| Airport Blvd | 2 |
| Fm 734 | 2 |
| SR-360 | 2 |
| 11th St | 1 |
| Congress Ave | 1 |
| Dessau Rd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Travis County) |
|---|---|
| N Ih 35 | 62 |
| S Ih 35 | 58 |
| Ed Bluestein Blvd | 38 |
| Research Blvd | 36 |
| I-35 | 33 |
| Airport Blvd | 25 |
| Sh 130 | 24 |
| Bastrop Hwy | 23 |
ZIP 78731 at a glance
| Population | 27,507 |
| Density | 1,214 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $105,494 |
| Median home value | $888,319 |
| Home ownership | 53% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Travis 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 | 422 | — | 5.9 |
| 2000s | 390 | -8% | 7.5 |
| 2010s | 424 | +9% | 9.7 |
| 2020s | 551 | +30% | 18.0 |
In the 1990s about 422 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 551. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 12.5 a year in 2016–19, 18.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 78731
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 78731?
6,177 truck crashes have been reported in Travis County since 2015, with 217 deaths and 3,458 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 78731?
Since 2015, I-35 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 78731: 30.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 78731?
Truck crashes in Travis County peak in June, with 9.2% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 78731?
Since 2015, Travis County has reported 97 garbage-truck crashes, or 1.6% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 78731 compare with Texas for truck crashes?
Travis County records 39.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 62.9 across Texas.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 78731?
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.