ZIP 86504 (Fort Defiance, AZ) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 86504: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Apache 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
2 of 756 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
No fatal large-truck crashes with a road name recorded here since 2015.
How Apache County compares with Arizona
Apache County against Arizona and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Apache County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Apache County | Arizona | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 100.7 | 35.9 | 49.7 | 2.8× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 5.7 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 1.1× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.29 | 0.19 | 0.49 | 1.5× the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.3% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 82% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 8.2% | 3.2% | 6.2% | 2.6× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 18.4% | 22.6% | 23.7% | 19% below the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 7.9% | 5.3% | 13.8% | 1.5× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.6% | 42.1% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 38.6% | 30.0% | 24.8% | 1.3× the state |
Apache County sits below Arizona on garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am). Where it is higher: crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash.
The headline for Apache County: 8.2% share of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (Arizona: 3.2%).
Overview
Since 2015, 756 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Apache County. They injured 218 people and killed 42.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 6 days.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in June (10.3% of the year) and are lowest in February (5.6%).
The five winter months (November to March) hold 43.6% of truck crashes, against 42.1% across Arizona.
The busiest hour is 12–1 pm, with 6.6% of truck crashes.
Road surface: 8.2% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (Arizona: 3.2%).
Where crashes happen
No fatal crash involving a large truck has a recorded location within 10 miles of ZIP 86504 since 2015.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 2 crashes, 0.3% of the total, against 1.6% across Arizona.
Route planning tips for ZIP 86504 fleets
- Build extra time into June routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- With 8.2% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above Arizona), plan winter equipment checks early.
- Check your own stops for crash hotspots and low bridges with the free Route Planner.
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 Apache County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
No fatal crashes involving a large truck with a road name were recorded within 10 miles since 2015.
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Apache County) |
|---|---|
| I-40 Noncard@M326 | 9 |
| I-40 Noncard@M321 | 8 |
| I-40 Noncard@M333 | 7 |
| I-40 Noncard@M330 | 7 |
| I-40 Noncard@M325 | 7 |
| I-40 Noncard@M322 | 7 |
| I-40 Noncard@M350 | 6 |
| I-40 Noncard@M340 | 6 |
ZIP 86504 at a glance
| Population | 5,760 |
| Density | 11 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $46,573 |
| Median home value | $41,543 |
| Home ownership | 67% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Apache 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 | 12 | — | 2.5 |
| 2000s | 29 | +147% | 1.9 |
| 2010s | 23 | -21% | 1.9 |
| 2020s | 82 | +260% | 3.4 |
Reported truck crashes averaged 12 a year in the 1990s and 82 a year in the 2020s. Reporting practices changed over time, so part of any change can come from reporting. Fatal large-truck crashes: 2.0 a year in 2016–19, 3.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 86504
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 86504?
756 truck crashes have been reported in Apache County since 2015, with 42 deaths and 218 injuries.
What is the worst month for truck crashes in ZIP 86504?
June has the most truck crashes in Apache County, 10.3% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 86504?
Garbage trucks were involved in 2 reported crashes in Apache County since 2015 (0.3% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 86504 compare with Arizona for truck crashes?
The yearly rate is 100.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Apache County, vs 35.9 for Arizona.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 86504?
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.