ZIP 87120 (Albuquerque, NM) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 87120: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Bernalillo 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
5 of 1,291 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Bernalillo County compares with New Mexico
Bernalillo County against New Mexico and the US, 2015–2024 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Bernalillo County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2024) | Bernalillo County | New Mexico | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 17.1 | 45.6 | 49.7 | 62% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 7.4 | 9.5 | 3.4 | 22% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.41 | 0.56 | 0.49 | 27% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.4% | 0.4% | 2.3% | same |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.3% | 12.1% | 6.2% | 73% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 25.2% | 22.8% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 6.9% | 11.7% | 13.8% | 41% below the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 44.7% | 46.8% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 23.2% | 30.2% | 24.8% | 23% below the state |
Bernalillo County sits below New Mexico on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in ZIP 87120: 1.7× change in fatal truck crashes a year within 10 miles of ZIP 87120 (3.8 → 6.2).
Overview
Police reported 1,291 crashes involving commercial trucks in Bernalillo County since 2015: 523 people were injured and 92 were killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is September with 9.5% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 7.1%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 44.7% of truck crashes, against 46.8% across New Mexico.
The busiest hour is 10–11 am, with 7.1% of truck crashes.
3.3% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 12.1% across New Mexico.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-40 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (21). Next come I-25 (3), SR-45 (3) and Mu-Central Ave (2).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 5 crashes, 0.4% of the total, against 0.4% across New Mexico.
Route planning tips for ZIP 87120 fleets
- Plan September schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Bernalillo County.
- Where you can, review stops along I-40; it has the most fatal large-truck crashes nearby.
- 25.2% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above New Mexico; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- 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.
Reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2025; rates and comparisons skip those years.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Bernalillo County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 21 |
| I-25 | 3 |
| SR-45 | 3 |
| Mu-Central Ave | 2 |
| SR-500 | 2 |
| 2nd St Nw | 1 |
| 4th Street | 1 |
| 98th St | 1 |
| 98th Street | 1 |
| Bridge Blvd | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Bernalillo County) |
|---|---|
| I-40 | 106 |
| I 40 West Bd Fw | 71 |
| I 40 East Bd Fw | 64 |
| I-25 | 23 |
| Coors Blvd Nw | 23 |
| I 25 South Bd Fw | 18 |
| I 25 North Bd Fw | 15 |
| I 40 West-Bd Fw | 15 |
ZIP 87120 at a glance
| Population | 66,097 |
| Density | 443 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $86,907 |
| Median home value | $302,898 |
| Home ownership | 79% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Bernalillo 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 | 13 | — | 5.7 |
| 2000s | 54 | +312% | 5.0 |
| 2010s | 117 | +118% | 5.2 |
| 2020s | 87 | -25% | 11.4 |
From the 1990s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 13 to 87. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. Fatal large-truck crashes: 6.0 a year in 2016–19, 11.4 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 87120
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 87120?
Since 2015, 1,291 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Bernalillo County (523 injured, 92 killed).
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 87120?
I-40 had 21 fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 87120 since 2015, more than any other road.
Which month has the most truck crashes in ZIP 87120?
Truck crashes in Bernalillo County peak in September, with 9.5% of the year's crashes.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 87120?
Since 2015, Bernalillo County has reported 5 garbage-truck crashes, or 0.4% of its truck crashes.
What is the truck crash rate in ZIP 87120 compared with New Mexico?
The yearly rate is 17.1 truck crashes per 100,000 residents in Bernalillo County, vs 45.6 for New Mexico.
How do I plan a garbage truck route in ZIP 87120?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
Crash reporting to FMCSA was incomplete in 2025; those years are greyed out and left out of rates. 2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.