ZIP 81040 (Gardner, CO) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 81040: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Huerfano 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
1 of 190 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Huerfano County compares with Colorado
Huerfano County against Colorado and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Huerfano County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Huerfano County | Colorado | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 232.9 | 32.6 | 49.7 | 7.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.3 | 5.1 | 3.4 | 1.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.37 | 0.32 | 0.49 | 1.2× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.6% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 80% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 26.8% | 14.8% | 6.2% | 1.8× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 20.7% | 25.7% | 23.7% | 20% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 19.0% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 1.4× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 54.2% | 43.5% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 36.3% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 1.6× the state |
Huerfano County has lower values than Colorado for garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). It runs above Colorado on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
What stands out in Huerfano County: 26.8% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 14.8% across Colorado.
Overview
Since 2015, 190 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Huerfano County. They injured 72 people and killed 13.
That averages about one truck crash every 22 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is February with 15.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is June at 4.2%.
November through March accounts for 54.2% of truck crashes here, compared with 43.5% in Colorado.
By time of day, 12–1 pm stands out with 7.4% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 26.8% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Colorado: 14.8%).
Where crashes happen
Since 2015, fatal crashes with a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 81040 happened on SR-69 (2); no road leads clearly.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 0.5% of the total, against 2.8% across Colorado.
Route planning tips for ZIP 81040 fleets
- Plan February schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Huerfano County.
- With 26.8% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Colorado), plan winter equipment checks early.
- 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 Huerfano County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| SR-69 | 2 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Huerfano County) |
|---|---|
| Hwy 69 At Mp 26 | 5 |
| I 25 At Mp 52 | 4 |
| I25 At Mp 52 | 4 |
| I25 At Mp 64 | 3 |
| Hwy 69 At Mp 35 | 3 |
| Hwy 69 1,056 Feet N Of Mp 26 | 3 |
| Hwy 160 At Mp 279 | 3 |
| H160 At Mp 300 | 2 |
ZIP 81040 at a glance
| Population | 360 |
| Density | 0 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $30,978 |
| Home ownership | 94% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Huerfano 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 | 15 | — | 0.6 |
| 2000s | 10 | -35% | 0.6 |
| 2010s | 11 | +12% | 0.2 |
| 2020s | 18 | +64% | 1.0 |
In the 1990s about 15 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 18. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.2 a year in 2016–19, 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 81040
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 81040?
190 truck crashes have been reported in Huerfano County since 2015, with 13 deaths and 72 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 81040?
The worst month is February: 15.8% of truck crashes in Huerfano County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 81040?
Garbage trucks were involved in 1 reported crash in Huerfano County since 2015 (0.5% of truck crashes).
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 81040 compared with Colorado?
Huerfano County records 232.9 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 32.6 across Colorado.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 81040?
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.