Where Are Hazmat Transit Incidents Occurring?
Industrial states see the most overall incidents, while Alaska leads on a per-resident basis
Source: Trace One analysis of U.S. Department of Transportation data
Hazmat transit incidents are not evenly distributed across the U.S., with clear geographic patterns emerging between total incident counts and per-capita rates. In absolute terms, large industrial and logistics-heavy states dominate. Between April 1, 2021 and April 1, 2026, Texas (11,748 incidents) and California (11,462) reported the highest totals, followed by Illinois (8,764), Ohio (7,991), and Florida (7,292). These states serve as major hubs for manufacturing, energy production, and freight movement, combining high shipment volumes with dense transportation networks that increase overall exposure to transit-related incidents.
When adjusted for population, however, a different pattern emerges. Alaska reports 127.7 incidents per 100,000 residents, the highest rate in the country, followed by states such as Kansas (96.6), Connecticut (78.2), and Tennessee (77.8). This shift reflects how less populous states—particularly those with long supply routes or significant industrial activity relative to their size—can experience elevated risk on a per-resident basis. The contrast between total incidents and per-capita rates highlights how both economic scale and geographic constraints shape where hazmat transit risks are most concentrated.
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