ZIP 81321 (Cortez, CO) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 81321: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Montezuma 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 of 208 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Montezuma County compares with Colorado
Montezuma County against Colorado and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Montezuma County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Montezuma County | Colorado | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 68.8 | 32.6 | 49.7 | 2.1× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.4 | 5.1 | 3.4 | 1.5× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.35 | 0.32 | 0.49 | 1.1× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.0% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 100% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 24.1% | 14.8% | 6.2% | 1.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 24.6% | 25.7% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 22.7% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 1.7× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 52.2% | 43.5% | 41.9% | 1.2× the state |
| After dark | 29.1% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Compared with Colorado, Montezuma County is lower on garbage-truck share. It runs above Colorado on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
Montezuma County at a glance: 0 crashes involve a garbage truck (0 since 2015), vs 2.8% across Colorado.
Overview
Since 2015, 208 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Montezuma County. They injured 72 people and killed 15.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 20 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is December with 14.4% of truck crashes; the quietest is April at 3.8%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 52.2% of truck crashes, vs 43.5% for Colorado.
More truck crashes happen at 3–4 pm than at any other hour (9.6%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 24.1% of truck crashes, compared with 14.8% in Colorado.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, US-160 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (4). It is followed by US-491 (3).
Garbage & waste trucks
No crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Montezuma County since 2015.
Route planning tips for ZIP 81321 fleets
- Review driver schedules for December, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Where you can, review stops along US-160; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- Icy and snowy roads show up in 24.1% of truck crashes here, more than Colorado; 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 Montezuma County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-160 | 4 |
| US-491 | 3 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Montezuma County) |
|---|---|
| Hwy 491 At Mp 45 | 7 |
| S Broadway At W Main St | 4 |
| SR-491 | 4 |
| Hwy 491 At Mp 41 | 3 |
| Hwy 491 At Mp 39 | 3 |
| Hwy 491 At Mp 29 | 3 |
| Hwy 160 At Mp 25 | 3 |
| Colorado State Patrol | 2 |
ZIP 81321 at a glance
| Population | 14,236 |
| Density | 13 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $59,506 |
| Median home value | $287,186 |
| Home ownership | 75% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Montezuma 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 | 14 | — | 0.9 |
| 2000s | 15 | +12% | 0.3 |
| 2010s | 16 | +3% | 1.1 |
| 2020s | 19 | +18% | 1.8 |
In the 1990s about 14 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 19. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 1.2 a year in 2016–19 and 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 81321
How many truck accidents are there in ZIP 81321?
208 truck crashes have been reported in Montezuma County since 2015, with 15 deaths and 72 injuries.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 81321?
NHTSA data shows US-160 with 4 fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 81321 since 2015, the highest of any road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 81321?
December has the most truck crashes in Montezuma County, 14.4% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 81321?
Garbage trucks were involved in 0 reported crashes in Montezuma County since 2015 (0.0% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 81321 compare with Colorado?
Montezuma County records 68.8 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 32.6 across Colorado.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 81321?
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.