ZIP 81503 (Grand Junction, CO) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 81503: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Mesa 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
13 of 390 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Mesa County compares with Colorado
Mesa County against Colorado and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Mesa County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Mesa County | Colorado | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 19.7 | 32.6 | 49.7 | 40% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.1 | 5.1 | 3.4 | same |
| Injuries per crash | 0.31 | 0.32 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.1× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 13.1% | 14.8% | 6.2% | 11% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.3% | 25.7% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 12.0% | 13.2% | 13.8% | 9% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 41.4% | 43.5% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 28.9% | 22.4% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Compared with Colorado, Mesa County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share, morning rush (6–10 am) and after dark.
What stands out in ZIP 81503: I-70 deadliest road: 3 fatal truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 81503 since 2015.
Overview
Police reported 390 crashes involving commercial trucks in Mesa County since 2015: 122 people were injured and 18 were killed.
Across the years with complete reporting, that is roughly one truck crash every 11 days.
When crashes happen
August has the most truck crashes, 11.3% of the yearly total, while March has the fewest (6.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 41.4% of truck crashes, vs 43.5% for Colorado.
More truck crashes happen at 9–10 am than at any other hour (8.2%).
13.1% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 14.8% across Colorado.
Where crashes happen
I-70 leads within 10 miles of ZIP 81503 with 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: 23 Rd (1), CR-30 Rd (1) and CR-S Broadway (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 13 crashes, 3.3% of the total, against 2.8% across Colorado.
Route planning tips for ZIP 81503 fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Mesa County.
- Look at alternatives to I-70 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- 28.3% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Colorado; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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 Mesa County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-70 | 3 |
| 23 Rd | 1 |
| CR-30 Rd | 1 |
| CR-S Broadway | 1 |
| River Rd | 1 |
| SR-141 | 1 |
| SR-70 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Mesa County) |
|---|---|
| I 70 At Mp 44 | 5 |
| I-70 | 4 |
| I70 At Mp 50 | 4 |
| River Rd At Railroad Blvd | 3 |
| Rd At Patterson Rd | 3 |
| Rd At North Ave | 3 |
| Railroad Blvd At River Rd | 3 |
| I70 At Mp 32 | 3 |
ZIP 81503 at a glance
| Population | 16,558 |
| Density | 290 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $75,053 |
| Median home value | $352,322 |
| Home ownership | 77% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Mesa 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 | 29 | — | 1.3 |
| 2000s | 42 | +48% | 1.5 |
| 2010s | 30 | -29% | 1.4 |
| 2020s | 36 | +22% | 1.8 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 29 to 36. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 1.2 a year in 2016–19, 1.8 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 81503
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 81503?
Mesa County has had 390 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 122 people and killing 18.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 81503?
I-70 had 3 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 81503 since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 81503?
August has the most truck crashes in Mesa County, 11.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 81503?
Since 2015, Mesa County has reported 13 garbage-truck crashes, or 3.3% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 81503 compare with Colorado?
Per 100,000 residents, Mesa County has 19.7 truck crashes a year; Colorado has 32.6.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 81503?
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.