ZIP 87018 (Counselor, NM) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 87018: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Sandoval 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
6 of 242 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Sandoval County compares with New Mexico
Sandoval County against New Mexico and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Sandoval County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Sandoval County | New Mexico | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 12.9 | 45.6 | 49.7 | 72% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.2 | 9.5 | 3.4 | 24% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.54 | 0.56 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.7% | 0.4% | 2.3% | 6.0× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 9.4% | 12.1% | 6.2% | 22% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.1% | 22.8% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 13.0% | 11.7% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 43.0% | 46.8% | 41.9% | 8% below the state |
| After dark | 32.3% | 30.2% | 24.8% | same |
Compared with New Mexico, Sandoval County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow.
Sandoval County at a glance: 1 in 37 crashes involve a garbage truck (6 since 2015), vs 0.4% across New Mexico.
Overview
Police reported 242 crashes involving commercial trucks in Sandoval County since 2015: 126 people were injured and 17 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 18 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
Truck crashes peak in September (13.2% of the year) and are lowest in April (4.5%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 43.0% of truck crashes, vs 46.8% for New Mexico.
More truck crashes happen at 7–8 am than at any other hour (7.4%).
Road surface: 9.4% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice (New Mexico: 12.1%).
Where crashes happen
Fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 87018 since 2015 were spread across roads: US-550 (4).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 6 crashes, 2.5% of the total, against 0.4% across New Mexico.
Route planning tips for ZIP 87018 fleets
- Review driver schedules for September, the month with the most truck crashes.
- The morning rush (6–10 am) holds 25.1% of truck crashes here, more than New Mexico; adjust start times where you can.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
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 Sandoval County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-550 | 4 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Sandoval County) |
|---|---|
| US-550 | 57 |
| I-25 | 15 |
| SR-550 | 5 |
| Nm 528 | 4 |
| State Road 528 | 3 |
| Us Highway 550 & Ts Jicarilla Rd | 3 |
| W Us 550 | 3 |
| Abrazo Rd | 2 |
ZIP 87018 at a glance
| Population | 561 |
| Density | 1 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $30,250 |
| Home ownership | 100% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Sandoval 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 | 4 | — | 1.8 |
| 2000s | 10 | +163% | 1.8 |
| 2010s | 18 | +79% | 1.2 |
| 2020s | 19 | +5% | 1.0 |
In the 1990s about 4 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 1.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 87018
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 87018?
242 truck crashes have been reported in Sandoval County since 2015, with 17 deaths and 126 injuries.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 87018?
September has the most truck crashes in Sandoval County, 13.2% of the yearly total.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 87018?
Garbage trucks were involved in 6 reported crashes in Sandoval County since 2015 (2.5% of truck crashes).
How do truck crashes in ZIP 87018 compare with New Mexico?
Per 100,000 residents, Sandoval County has 12.9 truck crashes a year; New Mexico has 45.6.
How can I plan a safer truck route in ZIP 87018?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.