ZIP 97218 (Portland, OR) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 97218: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes here and in Multnomah 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
2.9 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.9 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How Multnomah County compares with Oregon
Multnomah County against Oregon and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Multnomah County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Multnomah County | Oregon | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 26.6 | 41.0 | 49.7 | 35% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.9 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 26% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.28 | 0.35 | 0.49 | 20% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 4.4% | 2.0% | 2.3% | 2.2× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 3.8% | 13.3% | 6.2% | 71% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 26.7% | 24.2% | 23.7% | 1.1× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 20.6% | 18.8% | 13.8% | 1.1× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 42.8% | 45.1% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 21.7% | 25.3% | 24.8% | 14% below the state |
Multnomah County sits below Oregon on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow.
The headline for Multnomah County: 1 in 23 crashes involve a garbage truck (111 since 2015), vs 2.0% across Oregon.
Overview
Police reported 2,462 crashes involving commercial trucks in Multnomah County since 2015: 683 people were injured and 71 were killed.
In complete reporting years that works out to about one truck crash every 2 days.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 9.7% of truck crashes; the quietest is September at 7.4%.
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 42.8% of truck crashes, vs 45.1% for Oregon.
By time of day, 9–10 am stands out with 8.0% of truck crashes.
3.8% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 13.3% across Oregon.
Where crashes happen
Roads with fatal crashes involving a large truck within 10 miles of ZIP 97218 since 2015: I-205 (6), I-5 (6), I-84 (5), Ne Marine Dr (5) and Ne Columbia Blvd (3). No single road stands out.
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage trucks account for 111 of the truck crashes here, or 4.5%, compared with 2.0% in Oregon.
Garbage-truck crashes peak in December (12% of them).
They recorded 2.9 deaths per 100 crashes, against 2.9 for all trucks.
Route planning tips for ZIP 97218 fleets
- Review driver schedules for August, the month with the most truck crashes.
- Waste haulers: December is the peak month for garbage-truck crashes in Multnomah County.
- 26.7% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above Oregon; 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
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 Multnomah County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-205 | 6 |
| I-5 | 6 |
| I-84 | 5 |
| Ne Marine Dr | 5 |
| Ne Columbia Blvd | 3 |
| SR-99 | 3 |
| SR-500 | 2 |
| US-30 | 2 |
| CR-JOHNSON Creek Blvd | 1 |
| CR-NE 78Th St | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Multnomah County) |
|---|---|
| I-5 .01 S Wheeler Ave On Ramp | 7 |
| I-5 .04 N Multnomah Blvd On Ramp | 7 |
| I-405 (Fremont Bridge) | 6 |
| I-5 .05 S Hwy 99W On Ramp | 6 |
| I-205 .13 N Division St On Ramp | 5 |
| I-405 | 5 |
| Marine Dr & 122Nd Ave | 5 |
| Hwy 30 & Nicolai St | 4 |
ZIP 97218 at a glance
| Population | 15,428 |
| Density | 895 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $88,924 |
| Median home value | $496,213 |
| Home ownership | 58% |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Multnomah 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 | 95 | — | 5.7 |
| 2000s | 195 | +106% | 3.8 |
| 2010s | 224 | +15% | 4.5 |
| 2020s | 189 | -16% | 6.0 |
In the 1990s about 95 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 189. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal crashes involving a large truck averaged 5.5 a year in 2016–19 and 6.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 97218
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 97218?
2,462 truck crashes have been reported in Multnomah County since 2015, with 71 deaths and 683 injuries.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 97218?
The worst month is August: 9.7% of truck crashes in Multnomah County happen then.
Are garbage truck crashes common in ZIP 97218?
111 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in Multnomah County since 2015, 4.5% of all truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in ZIP 97218 compare with Oregon?
Multnomah County records 26.6 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 41.0 across Oregon.
What is the best way to plan truck routes in ZIP 97218?
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.