ZIP 78738 (Austin, TX) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 78738: 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 |
Travis County has lower values than Texas for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. Where it is higher: garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in ZIP 78738: SR-71 most fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 78738: 5 since 2015.
Overview
Since 2015, 6,177 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Travis County. They injured 3,458 people and killed 217.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly 1 truck crash every day.
When crashes happen
June has the most truck crashes, 9.2% of the yearly total, while December has the fewest (7.2%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 40.3% of truck crashes, against 40.8% across Texas.
More truck crashes happen at 12–1 pm than at any other hour (7.2%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 0.7% of truck crashes, compared with 1.7% in Texas.
Where crashes happen
SR-71 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 78738 with 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. It is followed by US-290 (3), Beacon Dr (1) and CR-163 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 97 crashes, 1.6% of the total, against 1.1% across Texas.
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 78738 fleets
- Build extra time into June routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Where you can, review stops along SR-71; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Garbage-truck crashes here peak in March; review collection routes for that month.
- 24.9% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Texas; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Travis County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-71 | 5 |
| US-290 | 3 |
| Beacon Dr | 1 |
| CR-163 | 1 |
| Headwaters Blvd | 1 |
| Mu-Flint Rock Rd | 1 |
| Rm 1826 | 1 |
| Rm 2322 Pace Bend South Rd | 1 |
| Rr 620 | 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 78738 at a glance
| Population | 31,019 |
| Density | 284 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $183,048 |
| Median home value | $916,568 |
| Home ownership | 75% |
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 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 422 a year in the 1990s and 551 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. 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 78738
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 78738?
Travis County has had 6,177 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 3,458 people and killing 217.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 78738?
SR-71 had 5 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 78738 since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 78738?
Truck crashes in Travis County peak in June, with 9.2% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 78738?
Garbage trucks were involved in 97 reported crashes in Travis County since 2015 (1.6% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 78738 compare with Texas for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 39.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Travis County, vs 62.9 for Texas.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 78738?
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.