Situated in West Texas, the cities of Midland and Odessa sit at the heart of the Permian Basin oil and gas industry. Connected by the major trucking corridor Interstate 20 and a maze of overburdened Farm-to-Market roads and state highways that serve as vital arteries for nearby oilfields, the region has become ground zero for a surge in deadly truck crashes.
While Midland-Odessa is substantially smaller than metro areas like Dallas or Houston, the population has surged by more than 5% since 2020, driven largely by the area’s oil and gas boom. Today, over 250,000 people call these cities home, many of them working in or around the oilfields.
That growth has brought with it a flood of local congestion and a spike in oilfield traffic: thousands of water, sand, and equipment-hauling trucks moving to and from drilling sites around the clock. And with hundreds more long-haul 18-wheelers barreling down I-20 every day, it’s no surprise Midland and Odessa consistently rank among the most dangerous places in Texas for truck accidents.
Popular Truck Route – Interstate 20
Interstate 20 is the only major highway that runs west out of Dallas. This means that trucks traveling to or from Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, or Tucson will almost always use this route.
Cargo trucks coming from the Los Angeles docks run daily to Dallas and further east to Atlanta. As the name suggests, Midland is located almost perfectly along this route as a convenient truck stop location.
Truck Accident Statistics in Midland and Odessa
According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDoT), there were 897 truck accidents in Midland and Odessa in a single year (2023). For comparison, El Paso, an urban city with three times the population, recorded only 100 more.
But the fatality rate is even more alarming. While El Paso saw six fatal truck crashes, Midland-Odessa experienced 14 deadly truck wrecks during the same period, more than double. Serious crashes followed a similar trend, with three times as many in Midland-Odessa as in El Paso.
To put these numbers in perspective: El Paso had nearly 19,000 total vehicle accidents, while Midland-Odessa had less than half that number. Yet,, 1 in 10 crashes in Midland-Odessa involved a commercial truck, compared to just 1 in 20 in El Paso, These numbers reveal what locals already know: Midland and Odessa have become one of the most dangerous areas in Texas for truck accidents—not because of population density, but because of the relentless surge in oilfield traffic and the companies that continue to prioritize profits over public safety.
Unfortunately, preliminary TxDOT crash data from 2024 suggests the crisis is far from over. At least 15 people lost their lives in Midland and Ector County truck crashes last year—evidence that the region’s trucking dangers continue to escalate.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Midland and Odessa
What causes all of these truck accidents, and how can you potentially avoid them? The following addresses common truck accident causes
Rushing & Pressure to Meet Deadlines
Oil rigs in the Permian Basin run 24/7, and keeping them supplied requires a constant flow of oilfield equipment, drilling materials, water, sand, and hazardous chemicals. That nonstop demand puts thousands of commercial trucks on the road at all hours, often on rural highways and narrow two-lane roads not built for this level of heavy traffic. Many of these drivers face intense pressure to meet delivery deadlines, leading to speeding, fatigue, and dangerously overloaded or poorly maintained vehicles.
Inexperienced Drivers
Despite six-figure salaries offered to oilfield truckers, oil and gas companies in Midland and Odessa often struggle to recruit and retain qualified drivers. A nationwide shortage and high industry turnover mean many drivers behind the wheel are young, undertrained, or lack the experience to safely navigate the region’s congested and often hazardous roadways.
Exiting and Entering the Highway
The narrow, rural roads throughout the Permian Basin weren’t built to accommodate the volume of heavy truck traffic that now floods the region. Between oilfield trucks hauling equipment and materials to and from drilling sites and long-haul 18-wheelers traveling along I-20, vehicles are constantly entering and exiting highways—often at low speeds and in areas with limited visibility. This creates a dangerous speed differential, especially on busy stretches near gas stations, truck stops, and lodging. Unlike passenger vehicles, large trucks take significantly longer to accelerate and brake, increasing the risk of rear-end collisions and sideswipe accidents.
Fatigue
It’s not uncommon for Permian Basin drivers to work 15 to 20-hour days for weeks. Additionally, a truck driver coming from Dallas has probably been on the road for five to six hours. If they are coming from the west, they may have been on the road even longer than that. Tired truckers may swerve in their lane or not notice a danger before it is too late. If you see a truck that occasionally crosses lane lines, you should do your best to avoid it.
Speeding
Not all trucks stop in Midland and Odessa. When drivers don’t stop, they probably have somewhere to get to quickly, resulting in a strong temptation to speed. Typically, speeding itself doesn’t cause accidents. Instead, accidents usually occur when the truck needs to stop for some reason and is moving at a speed that makes stopping quickly impossible.
When this happens, the truck driver is likely to lose control and may even jackknife across multiple lanes. Accidents at these speeds are often deadly.
Distracted Driving
Another problem with this being a common truck stop area is that those stops often result in distracted driving. Drivers may use their GPS to find a particular food place or look up their next delivery location. Similarly, a driver who got food may eat it in the cab.
These actions take the driver’s eyes off the road. Distracted driving is dangerous, even in the best of circumstances involving smaller vehicles. Large trucks are difficult to maneuver and incredibly heavy. Driving an 80-ton vehicle without looking at the road is likely to result in a devastating accident.
What To Do if You Are in a Truck Accident in Midland or Odessa
If you are unlucky enough to be involved in a truck accident in these twin cities, you will want to take the following steps:
- Contact 911 as soon as possible and request medical care
- Get your vehicle safely to the side of the road if possible
- Render aid to the other driver if possible and necessary
- Share contact information with the other driver
- Contact your insurance company to report the accident
- Document the accident scene and any injuries you suffered
These steps will help protect your health and make it easier to get financial compensation for any injuries that you suffered in the accident. A truck accident is very similar to a car accident, but likely to be a lot more serious. This makes it all the more important to protect your health and financial well-being.
Be Wary Near Midland and Odessa
Considering the relatively small size of these two cities, truck accident rates are very high in Midland and Odessa. But for those who live and work here, avoiding busy roads like Interstate 20 simply isn’t realistic.
While you may not be able to steer clear of the area’s most dangerous roadways, you can take steps to stay safe. Give large trucks plenty of space, avoid lingering in their blind spots and no zones, and use extra caution when passing, especially in areas with heavy oilfield traffic or limited visibility.
Contact the Midland-Odessa Truck Accident Attorneys from Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers for Help Today, Call (888) 603-3636
With Billions won for accident victims, including the #1 largest truck accident verdicts and settlements in history, our Midland-Odessa Truck Accident lawyers have the resources and experience to take on the largest trucking and oil and gas companies in the world and not only win, but set records.
If you or a loved one were injured or tragically killed in a Midland-Odessa truck or 18-wheeler accident, call (888) 603-3636 or send us a confidential email through our Contact Us form.
For more information, please contact our truck accident attorneys in Midland at Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today.
We proudly serve Harris County, Midland County, and throughout the state of Texas. We are located in Houston and Midland and throughout the state of Texas:
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Houston
2700 Post Oak Blvd #1000, Houston, TX 77056
(888) 603-3636
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Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Midland
306 W Wall St Suite 701, Midland, TX 79701
(432) 220-0000
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