ZIP 95521 (Arcata, CA) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 95521: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Humboldt 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
12 of 434 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Humboldt County compares with California
Humboldt County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Humboldt County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Humboldt County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 29.2 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 12% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 8.7 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 2.4× the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.39 | 0.44 | 0.49 | 11% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 2.8% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.7× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 2.4% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 2.5× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 22.8% | 23.5% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 14.8% | 6.5% | 13.8% | 2.3× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 32.2% | 40.2% | 41.9% | 20% below the state |
| After dark | 24.0% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 17% below the state |
Humboldt County has lower values than California for crashes per 100k residents / yr, injuries per crash and winter months (nov–mar). It runs above California on deaths per 100 crashes, garbage-truck share and on snow, slush or ice.
What stands out in Humboldt County: 2.4% on snowy, slushy or icy roads, against 0.9% across California.
Overview
Police reported 434 crashes involving commercial trucks in Humboldt County since 2015: 173 people were injured and 37 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 9 days.
When crashes happen
July has the most truck crashes, 10.8% of the yearly total, while November has the fewest (5.8%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 32.2% of truck crashes, vs 40.2% for California.
By time of day, 3–4 pm stands out with 9.2% of truck crashes.
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 2.4% of truck crashes, compared with 0.9% in California.
Where crashes happen
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 95521 is US-101, with 4 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: Myrtle Ave (1) and SR-299 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 12 of the truck crashes here, or 2.8%, compared with 1.6% in California.
Route planning tips for ZIP 95521 fleets
- Build extra time into July routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to US-101 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- With 2.4% of truck crashes on snow, slush or ice (above California), plan winter equipment 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 Humboldt County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-101 | 4 |
| Myrtle Ave | 1 |
| SR-299 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Humboldt County) |
|---|---|
| US-101 | 5 |
| SR-36 | 4 |
| SR-299 | 3 |
| Central Av/Gwin Rd | 2 |
| Rt101/.7M S Kane Rd | 2 |
| Rt101/.8M S Kane Rd | 2 |
| Rt101/1.2M S Kane Rd | 2 |
| Rt96/.6M E Slate Creek Rd | 2 |
ZIP 95521 at a glance
| Population | 21,980 |
| Density | 141 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $53,114 |
| Median home value | $509,389 |
| Home ownership | 40% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Humboldt 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 | — | — | 2.4 |
| 2000s | 29 | — | 1.2 |
| 2010s | 34 | +16% | 2.1 |
| 2020s | 39 | +14% | 2.0 |
From the 2000s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 29 to 39. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 3.2 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 95521
How common are truck crashes in ZIP 95521?
434 truck crashes have been reported in Humboldt County since 2015, with 37 deaths and 173 injuries.
Which road has the most fatal truck crashes in ZIP 95521?
Since 2015, US-101 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 95521: 4.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 95521?
Truck crashes in Humboldt County peak in July, with 10.8% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in ZIP 95521?
Since 2015, Humboldt County has reported 12 garbage-truck crashes, or 2.8% of its truck crashes.
How does ZIP 95521 compare with California for truck crashes?
Humboldt County records 29.2 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 33.2 across California.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 95521?
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.