ZIP 97231 (Portland, OR) truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes around ZIP 97231: 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 |
Compared with Oregon, Multnomah County is lower on crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and injuries per crash. It runs above Oregon on garbage-truck share, morning rush (6–10 am) and in rain, sleet or snow.
Multnomah County at a glance: 1 in 23 crashes involve a garbage truck (111 since 2015), vs 2.0% across Oregon.
Overview
Multnomah County has recorded 2,462 truck crashes since 2015, with 683 people injured and 71 killed.
That averages about one truck crash every 2 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
The worst month is August with 9.7% of truck crashes; the quietest is September at 7.4%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 42.8% of truck crashes, against 45.1% across Oregon.
The busiest hour is 9–10 am, 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
The deadliest road for trucks within 10 miles of ZIP 97231 is I-5, with 7 fatal large-truck crashes since 2015. After it: US-30 (3), CR-NE 78Th St (1) and CR-NE Highway 99 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 111 crashes, 4.5% of the total, against 2.0% across Oregon.
The most garbage-truck crashes happen in December (12%).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 2.9, vs 2.9 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for ZIP 97231 fleets
- Plan August schedules with more margin; it is the worst month for truck crashes in Multnomah County.
- Look at alternatives to I-5 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at December schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 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
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 Multnomah County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| I-5 | 7 |
| US-30 | 3 |
| CR-NE 78Th St | 1 |
| CR-NE Highway 99 | 1 |
| CR-NW Dixie Mountain Rd | 1 |
| CR-SCAPPOOSE Vernonia Hwy | 1 |
| I-205 | 1 |
| SR-99 | 1 |
| US-26 | 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 97231 at a glance
| Population | 4,308 |
| Density | 26 per sq mi |
| Median household income | $137,527 |
| Median home value | $910,703 |
| Home ownership | 88% |
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 large-truck crashes: 5.5 a year in 2016–19, 6.0 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions fleets ask about ZIP 97231
How many truck crashes happen in ZIP 97231?
Multnomah County has had 2,462 reported truck crashes since 2015, injuring 683 people and killing 71.
What is the most dangerous road for trucks in ZIP 97231?
Since 2015, I-5 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of ZIP 97231: 7.
When do most truck crashes happen in ZIP 97231?
The worst month is August: 9.7% of truck crashes in Multnomah County happen then.
How many garbage truck accidents happen in ZIP 97231?
Garbage trucks were involved in 111 reported crashes in Multnomah County since 2015 (4.5% of truck crashes).
How does ZIP 97231 compare with Oregon for truck crashes?
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 97231?
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.